[inlink]mike,317[/inlink]
Mike,
When I come home in may we can awkwardly hang out at spot with Yosepha everyday, if that works for you, and a good time will be had by all.
-Jesse

Ok, so I know I should be doing research and stop slacking but I had to post this.

The other week was the election for our student government. As a big nerd, I am involved in student government so I pay attention to these types of things. After the regular election for president, we have a runoff if no one candidate can get 40% of the vote. I made this post on who I am supporting in the runoff and why on a website www.nakedvoting.com devoted to our student government's elections (I'm not the only nerd at my school). Here is the post and the link to it

"Coming into this election, I thought I knew who I was going to vote for for president. I had worked with one of the candidates before and I found him to be someone who was a good person and cared about the students of AU. He had my vote in the bag.

"Unfortunately, as the campaign progressed, his campaign kept doing things that left a bad taste in my mouth. He kept coming out with statements that seemed like pandering. He would bash the administration in order to get votes without examining the issue and not realizing that if he was elected, he would have to work with them. His statements trashing of the administration could severly handicap him when he actually had to sit down with them and advocate for the students. He was quick to blame Ben Ladner [our University's President] for anything and everything, even if he had little actual influence over the decision.

"He also sought to take political advantage of the elimination of the tennis and golf teams. While I do strongly believe that all of the presidential candidates should follow Polson's [our current student government president] lead and fight for a student voice on the issue, he was trying to use it for political gain. This is a big issue and should not be used to play political games.

"The final straw for me was at the GA [our student legislative body of which I am a part] meeting on Sunday. During the discussion of tennis and golf, everyone was allow to go around and say their piece, which he did. But as the Speaker called for the Assembly to stand at ease to allow the tennis and golf teams and their supporters to leave, he insisted on standing up to showboat. He went on a tirade against Ladner in which he insisted on marching down to the President's office from which he would not leave until he "got an audience" with Ladner. Never mind the fact that it was Sunday and Ladner was not in his office and would not be until at least until monday. That didn't matter. He saw potential voters and said what they wanted to hear even though it was just talk. I do not know if he ever even went down to Ladner's office (I had to stay at the meeting). But it wasn't even about that, it was about showing off and talking big even though it meant nothing.

"I have no doubt in my mind that this candidate is a good person at heart. But his willingness to pander and listen to political handlers, even though it may hurt his administration, makes me question what kind of president he would be.

"In the regular election, I voted for James Gardner. In the runoff, I will be supporting Kyle Taylor and I encourage you to do the same."

Our student paper did not mention any of the showboating in their next issue (Mon), though they reported extensively on the GA meeting and the tennis and golf team elimination. I made that post the day after the Monday issue came out, and in the next issue (Thursday), they made the following endorsement on their editorial page

"In last week's Student Government presidential election, Joe Gallina and Kyle Taylor both won about 30 percent of the vote, necessitating a run-off election between the two for Thursday. Though our endorsed candidate, James Gardner, did not earn enough votes to be part of the run-off, we will follow Gardner's lead and pass on our endorsement to Taylor in the run-off.

"As noted in our Feb. 24 endorsement editorial, Taylor very nearly won our endorsement outright. As we said then, we feel Taylor is enthusiastic and organized, and has done a stellar job in his previous Student Confederation roles of vice president and Eagle Nights director. Taylor has great ideas on improving basic campus services. He is capable and well-prepared to be SG president.

"Though Gallina has a strong personality and a willingness to fight for students, we fear he may be too antagonistic and confrontational toward AU administration to be productive. Just as important, we feel Gallina does not have nearly as clear a plan for the office as Taylor does.

" Gallina has been running posters referencing AU's decision to cut the tennis and golf programs, with an implication that he could or will do something about it. This ad campaign seems almost exploitative of current campus sentiment against the cuts. Even if he were SG president when the decision came down, there's precious little he could have actually done about the cuts. At Sunday's General Assembly meeting, Gallina's grandstanding about marching to President Benjamin Ladner's office came across as the political rhetoric devoid of any real answers. (Ladner in office on a Sunday? Please.)

"Students must remember that even if they voted in this past week's elections, their votes for president won't count in the run-off. Both candidates start with zero votes. Regardless of whom you supported in last week's election, or even if you didn't vote, Thursday's election is a chance to use your voice on how you want to be represented. Voting runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in Mary Graydon Center 120."
When I read that I started cracking up. I wonder if they read the message boards on the election. I just wish they would have cited me. :-p Either way my candidate won handily.

Ok, I will stop slacking.
-Jesse

Hey (e:MK) Hope your recital went well. Back to my spring break o' thesis work.
-Jesse

I'm at my office hours right now listening to 102.1 the edge on the internet and putting off doing what I should be.

Spring Break starts thursday for me but I won't be coming home cause i have to work on my senior thesis. I don't know how this is going to come together. We shall see.

As far as grad school goes, I've gotten into Albany and Syracuse and am still waiting on NYU and American. I am sooooo excited though because Syracuse was my first choice by far. They also have the specialization I want (state and local government financial management). At other places I would either have to choose between government financial management or urban policy or I would have to make my own major. This has it all in one. That makes me happy and I will probably go to Syracuse pending some type of decent financial aid.

Also more exciting stuff, Citizens Against Government Waste, where I interned last spring and the spring before that, finally released the report on waste in the Capitol Visitor Center that I wrote (it is even under my name, I didn't just ghost write). Read it here and let me know what you think.

That is all. Talk to you later

-Jesse

hello all,
it has been a very stressful week. There are lots of things going on that I have to work on and I feel overwhelmed. Between leadership, the GA, and school work (mainly the capstone that I have been doing jacksquat on). I feel stretched extremely thin. I need to start prioritizing and scheduling better. Time to put some time in my schedule for things I need to get done. I am worried things are getting over my head and some of the things I am in I feel so frustrated because I want to change them and make them better, but I do not have the power to. The person who does have the power and can change things with the snap of a finger won't and if they do they will change their mind instanteneously. It is frustrating all of the work I put in to feel like it is a bs and will be destroyed soon anyway. I just don't know how to deal with it. I love it but it is soo frustrating. I keep getting the Grandmaster Flash Song "The Message" in my head. "Don't push me. I'm close to the edge. I'm trying not to lose my head. heh heh heh heh. It's like a jungle some times It makes me wonder how I keep from going under."

Speaking of music, I just put the entire Aeroplane Flies High box set into my CD player and am listening to it on random. I love the Mellon Collie era pumpkins. lately one of the songs off of the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex's new CD has grown on me. It is called "Newer Waves." I don't really like the rest of the album but I keep listening to that one song.

I got my job back (at least for events) which is nice. TOday is the first day I have worked since summer. It was nice to be back into the swing of things. I work at AU's gym for facilities. Basically I set up, work, and break down athletic events. Tonight I worked a women's basketball game against Bucknell. We lost. But I really like my job. All my bosses are really nice and relaxed. It is good to be working again.

That is all for now. I need to get my shit in line and figure out when I am going to get all my crap done. Have a good night all.
-Jesse

Hello All,
I first want to apologize to all of those who read my journal. Apparently I have not been putting on the A game as of late and I have recieved some complaint. Well here goes an effort at a real journal entry.

Tonight Siv Jess Matt and I went to the AU vs Army basketball game. It was a lot of fun. AU crushed Army. I never went to any sporting events in high school, if you discount going to my own soccer games freshman year, and I never went to sporting events in college unless I was getting paid (I used to have a work study job with athletics facilities where we would set up basketball courts volleyball nets etc). But these basketball games are a lot of fun. I'm pretty sure I embarrassed Jess by shouting at the other team obnoxiously. Sorry Jess. Sunday is our big game against our rivals Holy Cross. They are currently in first place and we are in second. It will be a tough game. I really hope we win the Patriot League Tournament this year and get into the NCAA bracket. The past three years we have made it to the final game only to lose (twice to Holy Cross and once to Lehigh). It would just be great to go out that way.

Speaking of going out, all of my grad school applications have been turned on. Thank you again (e:Maureen) for editing my personal statement 500 times after I would call and say, "Ummmm can you get it done tonight?" I really appreciate it and could not have done it without you. Speaking of which, Did you go home (e:Maureen)? Your away message says at the movies with mike and the rest. If so, I hope you are having a good time. How did the new car handle the ride home? How is the new car treating you?

I have been quite busy as of late with Leadership. I swear to god I got to no fewer than 3 meetings a day. I am on campus more often this semester and I only have three classes that meet regularly in addition to my capstone. Speaking of things that are a pain in my ass. I don't know how this one is going to turn out. I really have been slacking off and need to get on the ball. My goal is to have all my research done by the end of Feb but I really am lacking direction with this project. I really like my advisor, but the problem is, everytime I visit him in office hours he says the same things and we eventually end up talking buffalo politics for hours. Which, though enjoyable, does not help me make progress on my thesis. I shouldn't really complain though because he is really nice and gave me a good grade last semester. Someone else got a B in the class cause they never met with their advisor. Keep in mind these are all over achieveing honors students in a grade inflation school so that is a shock to the system for sure.

Ah well. I guess that is all for now. Maybe I will read a little and go to bed. Have a good night and I hope this satisfied all you poopooers

P.S. Kid A is an amazing album Here is a little "How to Disappear Completely"

That there
That's not me
I go
Where I please
I walk through walls
I float down the Liffey
I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

In a little while
I'll be gone
The moment's already passed
Yeah it's gone
And I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

Strobe lights and blown speakers
Fireworks and hurricanes
I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

Hello All,
I was going to bitch about something/get some peoples opinions on a situtation I am in with an organization that I am heavily involved in, but my rule about not talking smack about things/people in my journal so it doesn't come back to bite me in the ass won out. Sorry I am a cocktease.

Instead I have some pics for your viewing pleasure. These are from when I went bowling the other night with my roommates, Jess, Gordon, Nate and Dan (I hope that is Nate's b/f's name). Because I am a narcissist, I only posted the ones that I am in. The pics are Jess'.

Missing Image ;(

Another hot pic with my roommate and I

Missing Image ;(

My hot self and Jess tolerating my hot self

P.S. If you didn't notice, the Chestur A Arthur look is back.

Maybe I will use one of these for my user pic but I am too lazy to trim it down now.

That is all.
-Jesse

Happy Birthday Paul.

Went to inauguration. Quite interesting. Too lazy to expand.

Lazy day unfortunately

that is all

-Jesse

Today and Tomorrow will be my days of organization for the next semester. Up to this point I have been just doing things as they came up. This will not work for the entire semester because I have a lot I want to get done. THis lack of organization has caused me to forget 2 meetings in the past 2 days. Luckily I was able to have the meetings inspite of my forgetfulness. Time to get the ass in gear

Speaking of getting things done. I sent away my first application on Saturday to NYU. Thank you so much to (e:maureen) for turning my personal statement from a huge, rambling, piece of albatross crap to a personal statement that is a changing force. Also a big thank you to everyone else who read it. You all were a great help. Just three more applications to go and then I get to wait. Fun Fun.

Well, I have to go get organized. Talk to you later.

-Jesse

Finally finished my two weeks of insanity in the Campaign Management institute. In those two weeks our 6 person group produced a 160+ page campaign plan for the democrat running for governor in Virginia. I really like the candidate and would volunteer for him etc because a lot of his views are similar to mine. Unfortunately that is a big no no in politics. I think that is ridiculous and will comment on it later as well as tell you more about CMI. It was a great class, but I am still recovering.

Now I have one more week of madness. Classes start. I have to complete two applications for grad school that I have not started yet, and I have to plan a retreat for this friday and get together a vision for my upcoming semester as student director of the leadership program. I just have to get through next Saturday and I will be fine. Until then, bye.
-Jesse