In an interview that touched on campaign promises, middle names and plans for the future, The Daily Pennsylvanian sat down with the new head of the freshman class, Wharton freshman Arthur Gardner Smith.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: First off, why do you go by three names? Was it a campaign strategy or have you always gone by them?
Arthur Gardner Smith: Well, Gardner's my mom's maiden name. Whenever my mom called for me she would always say, "Arthur Gardner Smith." So it's something I've always used. It's what I sign with.
DP: What do you think was the key to you winning this election? And by such a great margin, over 40 percent [more than the runner-up]?
AGS: I had a team working with me. They knew my message was real and they got it out there. I wasn't out there making false promises like "I can get you better toilet paper."
DP: Who was this team, and where did you meet them?
AGS: The team was made up of floormates, members of [the Black Student League] and people I met at Wharton Club events.
It was kind of spontaneous. If they were available I would ask them for help. They passed out flyers, they helped me get ideas made, they helped me get a strategy together.
I remember one Sunday morning I woke up and another candidate had a poster on literally every tree. I was so discouraged, but then my team said to me, "Arthur, just do it." They provided a lot of encouragement.
DP: What do you see yourself doing after you graduate from Penn?
AGS: I know I'd like to do something entrepreneurial. Working for myself, doing something I like doing.
DP: Do you see yourself running for any more student offices in the future?
AGS: Definitely.
The DP also spoke with Undergraduate Assembly members and College freshmen Chi-Chi Achebe and Jon Lee, who received the most votes of the eight freshman UA representatives.
Lee, a native of Baton Rouge, La., spoke about both his home life and the campaign.
"I was about five miles from New Orleans [when Hurricane Katrina came]. I had a lot of family come over to stay," Lee said. "It made me realize how lucky I am."
He said that when he went out asking for signatures to get on the ballot, he didn't just ask for names, he also asked for problems, something he could fix if he was elected.
Achebe will serve as the UA's representative to the University Council, an advisory body to the University president made up of faculty, students and staff.
Her great-uncle is the influential Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart. Born in Nigeria herself, Achebe grew up in New Jersey and has ambitious plans to rework basic Penn services.
"I hope to work on the peer-adviser program," she said. "A lot of people don't think the peer advising works, the freshmen feel a lot of [the peer advisers] didn't take it seriously."
Achebe also expressed a wish to see lower laundry costs and perhaps even free printing for all students.
She said that her relationship with her great-uncle let her "hear the voices of those who don't have certain things."
"Many times I feel Penn caters to those with money, when there are those who might not have the ability to add money to their PennCard whenever they want, or pay the $1.25 for laundry," she added.
