Why I trust Tesser

I would not and could not start this op-ed without addressing the elephant in the room. Yes, Brian Tesser is running unopposed. As a member of his campaign, the TCU Senate and our student body, this truly saddens me. However, the disappointment of an uncontested election should not undermine the incredible impact Brian will have on our school as TCU president. Despite the lack of opposition, Brian remains an extraordinary leader who will lead the TCU Senate and the student body it serves in the right direction. As his leadership will impact us all, it is important to take this election as an opportunity to know who your potential president is, what they care about and the capacity and dedication they have to making your voices heard.

I first met Brian Tesser on Sept. 19, 2013, the day I was elected to the TCU Senate. Since then, not only has Brian become a wonderful friend, but also a role model. I have had the pleasure and privilege of working alongside him in many different facets of Senate. His dedication to the TCU Senate and to this student body is nothing short of inspiring. His passion aside, Brian is highly qualified to do the job at hand. He served as the TCU parliamentarian his sophomore year, handling all matters pertaining to resolutions, Senate’s bylaws and the TCU Constitution. Brian also served as the Outreach Committee chair in the fall of his junior year. I have seen Brian’s connection to this student body shine through during his work in each of these positions.

Brian will also help us celebrate our successes as a student body. Even though it was over a year ago, I still clearly remember talking to Brian after our final meeting of my first year. He made it a point to make sure to tell me and the other first-year students that he was proud of us for speaking up, voicing our opinions and working to better this student body. It was a two-minute conversation that Brian probably doesn’t even remember, but it was a conversation that meant so much to me and the other first-year students on the body at that time. This is the kind of leadership that the TCU Senate needs -- someone who can help us to strive to for excellence and encourage us to better this student body, while ensuring that people are applauded for their successes.

I was sitting down in the Campus Center on Saturday night talking to someone about Brian, and she said that the one reason Brian is so incredible is that he connects with so many people and works to support everyone. I really can’t stress how true this is. Anyone and everyone who’s friends with Brian knows he’ll always be there. That’s what this student body needs. Someone who truly cares and someone who will always be there for us.

One of Brian’s top priorities as TCU President is to increase transparency and further integrate the student body into the affairs of senate. Having served as the Outreach Chair of the TCU Senate, he is more than well equipped to do so. The TCU Senate is largely seen as a body that allocates funds to student group. While this is an integral function of the Senate, Brian recognizes that Senate also plays a key role in shaping the policies of this university and thus we must increase student participation if we wish to continue moving forward and serve the student body. Brian says it perfectly in his platform when he says, “All students should have a relevant stake in the issues prevalent on our campus, and all voices should be heard in the decision making process.”

Tufts, just like numerous universities all across the country, is facing serious issues around sexual assault on campus. It is at the forefront of Brian’s agenda to address these problems. His belief that the culture surrounding sexual assault on our campus needs to be everyone’s problem, not just the problem of survivors, is the approach we need from our TCU president. We all must be concerned by the fact that yes, steps have been taken, but they do not go far enough.

Brian will give a voice to those hit the hardest by the housing crisis, caused by the new ordinance being put in place by Somerville and the enforcement of the old housing ordinance, and make sure the administration hears those voices. Of course, what we need from our president is more than just making sure our voices are heard. They must also make sure that action is taken. I support Brian because he will do both of these things. He has concrete plans, such as creating an off-campus housing database, to take steps to solve this and many other issues.

So, when you see people walking around wearing Tesser for Tufts T-shirts today, stop us and ask us about Brian. Ask us why we’re proud to wear that shirt even though he’s 3,410 miles away in Madrid. Ask us how Brian’s inclusive and loving energy has inspired us to do better work and be better people. Ask us how Brian’s inspiring leadership as TCU President can help us all make Tufts a better home.