This is an exclusive interview with Student Assembly presidential candidate, Dillon Anadkat, by Samuel Kim, Managing Editor of The Cornell Review
Samuel Kim: Thank you so much, Dillon, in this busy campaigning season for taking the time to give us this interview.
Dillon Anadkat: Thank you for having me
Looking through your platform, one of the biggest parts is Greek Life reform. In the aftermath of the terrible tragedy last semester, President Pollack rolled out her Greek life reform plan. Where do you think this proposed plan by administration falls short and what would you do to reform Greek life on campus?
First, it is important to acknowledge that it is no longer a proposed plan, but it has been enforced. I think this plan was made with little consultation with leaders in Greek life and with little consultation with people in Greek life. It is a classic example of administration policy that is out-of-touch with the case on the ground.
Of course, we can all acknowledge that Greek life needs reforming. The tragedy of last year was the climax. There definitely is work that needs to be done that should be done. What I want to do is get Greek life leaders into a room with the administration for an open conversation to say, “Here are the genuine problems and issues we are having.” Let’s have a mature conversation about this and let’s try to find actual measures that address the issues.
Because, right now, it feels like the administration’s policy is to try and suffocate Greek life, to gradually erode it, which I do not think is the right approach. I think that these issues will persist, and the best way to address these things, the best way to avoid a tragedy like that from occurring again is for the administration to work with Greek life, to acknowledge and to accept that Greek life exists, to acknowledge and accept that (on the whole) Greek life is extremely beneficial to students in Greek life and to the campus as a whole.
Let’s work together on this. Rather than the administration trying to suffocate Greek life, students can say, “We acknowledge the problems in these areas, and we would like to have administration help to try to resolve these issues. I find the current reforms make Greek life harder to access, it differentially impacts different organizations based on their monetary standing, and they almost encourage more and more illegal behavior. We need to have a full review of the Greek life reforms, with Greek life and administration in the same room.
I want to come back here in many many years and find Greek life thriving. I think Greek life is a great institution, on the whole, but I want to work to preserve it and enhance it in a safer and more constructive manner.
Another problem facing Cornell students is balancing the tough academic commitments Cornell is known for and other commitments. Student athletes, in particular, have a lot of commitments. As SA president, how will you help students balance these commitments?
Seven percent of our undergraduate student body are recruited student athletes, a very significant chunk of our students. I have great respect for our student athletes and the work that they do. I cannot do what they do. They are the face of our school, and they represent us well, and it’s sad when I speak to them and hear their legitimate complaints.
Athletes have to balance their training, sports matches, and academics, as Ivy League students. And it’s a lot. What I want to do is, through the Student Assembly, create a system (a portal) by which (at the start of every semester) where athletes can clearly outline their commitments for the semester (when they will be out of class, when they will be at training, when they may not be able to do a test, prelim, or homework) for professors to look, in advance, to accommodate the student-athletes.
Right now, it’s a game of “catch-up.” It is someone saying, “Sorry, I can’t make it to class” and “No, you must make it to that class.”
“But my coach told me to do this.”
“I don’t care what your coach says, you need to come to class.”
It’s this constant conflict between the coaches and the professors. And the sufferers are the athletes themselves. So, I want to bring academic administration officials and the coaches to work out a way so that it is easier on student athletes, so they don’t suffer. They should not be suffering.
How has your background and personal experience as an international student informed your advocacy for international students in your platform, specifically reforming the International Students Office?
I am of Indian descent. I was born and raised in southern Africa and now live in the United Kingdom. I attend Cornell as an international student. I have found, during my time at Cornell, that international students are another group left off of the table. And I see this more and more now during the coronavirus pandemic because the pandemic has created a variety of issues for international students. In fact, a significant portion of our international students are not on campus, this semester.
I believe that the International Students Offices needs “beefing up,” more funding, and more staffing to cater to the need of our international students. I also think that the University needs to work around the needs of international students even more, especially with regards to orientation. The first two weeks at Cornell can be hardest for an international student. You’re away from home and thrown into the “deep-end.” You are in a new country, a new campus. It can seem daunting. This was how I felt when I arrived at Cornell.
It would be useful to have enhanced orientation programs for international students, ones that can connect these students to groups where they can meet people from different parts of the world and from home, so they can feel less isolated and more at home on this campus. No student should feel excluded.
Being an international student, I understand and sympathize with the problems of international students and have so for a long time.
Let me say, for a moment, that I would not be the sort of person to run for Student Assembly president. If you asked me this a year ago, I would’ve said, “There’s no way I would’ve wanted to run for the job.” There are groups on campus that I feel are being left out, left off the table. There are decisions of the administration that I disagree with. I see the Student Assembly as being very disconnected from the student body.
I do not like the way the Student Assembly functions. More and more are we hearing how the Assembly functions from within. We are hearing of reports of bullying, harassment, and intimidation from within the Assembly. It is disconnected and dysfunction, and very rotten system. That drives me to want to win this election and change the Assembly.
On that note, how do you feel about the “politicization” of the Assembly, with failed votes on BDS, and how that might affect other issues that are important to the student body?
There are obviously national and global issues that affect the student body, and it is important to address those issues through the Student Assembly. However, I believe that the Student Assembly should be bipartisan and apolitical. My reason for that is clear: the Student Assembly should be the voice of and representative of the entire student body. As you politicize the Student Assembly, you marginalize certain groups on campus, and you discriminate against groups on campus.
There are forums on campus where I encourage students to express their political opinions and views. It is important at this age to develop those views. But the Student Assembly should not be an area for national political agendas. Issues, of course, for example, the coronavirus pandemic is a national issue, is a global issue. The Student Assembly should absolutely be involved in how we manage the pandemic on campus, talk with administration on how to get through this semester.
Addressing a national issue is one thing. Politicizing it is another. I don’t think there should be politicization within the Student Assembly. It should be bipartisan and politically neutral. What I have seen, over the past couple of years, with an increasingly politicized Student Assembly is disheartening, because I do speak to lots of students on campus who feel left out, are discriminated against, simply as a result of the Student Assembly and its actions.
Just seeing some of the emphasis on national issues in the presidential debate for this cycle, it seems the Student Assembly is more preoccupied on these national issues than student issues. Moving on to the penultimate question. In this country, there has been a lot of outrage over the tragic death of George Floyd and other instances of police brutality. In response, multiple colleges, like Amherst College, MA, have imposed “speech codes.” As S.A. president, would you support a speech code and explain why or why not.
Let me just be very clear that discrimination and racism, as we have seen over the past few months, especially towards the African American community, is a very serious issue. At every step of the way, every person on campus, every member of the Student Assembly should actively fight to counter that. Discrimination, hate, and racism are absolutely unacceptable.
If I am elected, I want to work with the African American community on campus and other ethnic minority communities on campus, and leaders from these communities, to find out how the Student Assembly can help fight against discrimination, racism, bigotry, and hate.
On the point of a “hate speech clause” itself, I oppose the idea of the “hate speech clause”. I oppose hate speech. The issue with a hate speech clause is that it is very hard to effectively enforce and becomes a grey area. What constitutes “hate speech” versus “freedom of speech” or political speech? It is very challenging, and, of course, it is a very case-by-case basis. But, it is a massive gray area. The moment we have a “hate speech clause,” you will soon see this clause being inadvertently being used to impede on free speech, which cannot happen. I believe in free speech. I oppose hate speech. I will do everything I can to fight hate speech. But, I will oppose a “hate speech clause”.
As the final question, the campaign is nearing its end. What are you going to do in the final days of this campaign? One of your opponents is the current Executive Vice President of the Assembly. What is your pitch to voters and how will you win the Student Assembly presidential election?
As you have said, one of my opponents is the current Executive Vice President. My other opponent is a senior member of the Student Assembly. I am up against very tough competition.
The priority, as there is a few days before voting starts, is to get out the vote. If you see my platform, if you see what I stand for, please please please vote. You will get an email on Tuesday and a link on that email to vote. Please open that email and VOTE. It is so important to do so. Turnout in recent Student Assembly elections has hovered at thirty-three percent, which is pathetic. Let’s drive that up.
If you do believe in what I stand for, get your friends to vote. Spread the word about my campaign. It’s really about getting out the vote at this point.
Both of my opponents have established networks within the Student Assembly. They both ran University-wide campaigns before. They’re both, as I’ve described, are career politicians. I, on the other hand, am a complete fresh face to this race. I haven’t run a campaign like this before, so I’m at a disadvantage at the outset, as far as name recognition and having a campaign team goes.
I ask students, “How much do you really know about the Student Assembly?” More often than not, the response was “What the hell is the Student Assembly?” My friends didn’t know about the Assembly until I ran.
What has the Student Assembly done for you? The answer is, not very much. That really is because the Student Assembly is really dysfunctional and really disconnected. I almost feel like it currently serves to advance its own members’ political careers and agendas than it actually does to serve the student body.
It really is time for strong Student Assembly reform. Every single candidate has promised Student Assembly reform. But, it’s time for an outsider, it’s time for a fresh face to lead the effort reform from within, to make the Assembly work for the student body. I truly believe that I am the best to do it.
If people want to learn more about your campaign, where can they find you online or on social media?
If you want to learn more about my platform, you can go online to the Student Assembly’s candidate profiles. I also have social media pages. I urge all students to watch the Student Assembly debate from a few nights ago. It allowed the candidates to elaborate on their platforms. I will be, over the next few days, doing my best to reach as many students as possible about my campaign and the key issues at hand.
If you do find yourself aligning with things that I am saying. If you feel left behind by the Student Assembly, please make sure to click that link on Tuesday and vote for me. It is so important that we win this election.
Thank you so much Dillon and best of luck on the race.
Thank you.
