Name: Max Le Merle
Year: 2016
Hometown: Tiburon, California
Major: Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics
Can you give us an overview on the role of the Student Government Association (SGA)? How can students become involved with the SGA?
The SGA has a few roles on campus including overseeing all student organizations, representing students on various issues, and overseeing various committees including the Programming Board (which organizes various events such as the Welcome Back Dance, Spring Weekend, etc), the Budget Committee (which allocates funding for all events held by student organizations), and the Multicultural Affairs Committee. It’s a lot to manage, but it’s also a lot of fun. In the coming weeks we’ll be sending out an elections email with open positions and details on how to run.
As President of the SGA, what are you hoping to accomplish in the 2015-2016 academic year?
This year has already kicked off to a productive start: we’ve held a Campaign for Community, revisited our Sexual Misconduct Policy, we’ve seen the co-ed mandate repealed and met with presidents and leaders of all the fraternities and sororities on campus. We’ve also seen an increasing focus amongst administration to take student views seriously. There’s a lot to be accomplished yet, but my major focus this year is to survey students to get a feel for the issues that the student body feels are a top priority, and to work with administration to address these problems in a concise and efficient way. We’re also working on a few more exciting events which I won’t talk about yet, but you’ll likely hear about in the coming weeks.
Now that you are starting your fourth and final year at Trinity, what are some of the most memorable experiences you have had to date?
Spring Weekend has always been memorable, and I’ve been proud to tell my friends back home in California about all the amazing artists we’ve had on campus (they were so jealous that a few of them are flying cross-country to join me this year). It’s one of the most memorable times where all of Trinity comes together and has fun. I’ve also enjoyed visiting Trinity students from all over the world, having stayed last spring break with Katerina Hull-Fosas ‘16 in Puerto Rico, and this summer in Greece with Georgios Papadeas ‘15.
At the President’s Convocation, you encouraged new students to get involved in a variety of activities. Are there any specific opportunities this semester that you would like to highlight?
There are so many interesting clubs and groups on campus to get involved with. While I’m probably a bit biased, I strongly recommend running for Student Government. Sports teams and Greek life are great opportunities to get involved and I also want to highlight the variety of multicultural houses and clubs we have on campus (e.g. AASA, Hillel, HoP, i-House, LVL, MOCA) the accapella groups (e.g. Accidentals, Dischords, The Pipes, Quirks, Trinitones), the finance clubs (e.g. Budget Committee, Entrepreneurs Association, Investment Club) amongst so many others. Take the opportunity at the beginning of the year to attend a few and, as the year progresses, you’ll get a sense for what it is you find to be the best personal fit.
Do you have any other advice for new and returning students?
Have fun with it, and learn from both your successes and your mistakes. College goes by way faster than you’d think and by your senior year, you’ll wish you could do it all over again.