Jamison Moore ’04, a candidate for Common Council Alderman, experienced some academic difficulties last year, yet this year he promises to be back on the academic track.
In November, 4th Ward constituents will cast their vote for their Common Council representative; this person will replace Josh Glasstetter ’01 who resigned on September 12th for personal reasons and to establish the precedent of having two-year terms for student representatives.
Moore and Peter Mack ’03 are the two Cornell undergraduates running for this position.
Moore confirmed the fact that he took the spring semester off last year due to academic reasons but could not elaborate because of confidentiality rules imposed by the University. He still plans to graduate in May of 2004, with the rest of the current sophomore class.
Moore described his problems as the effect of a transitional phase every college student undergoes to some extent.
“I had a tough adjustment from high school to Cornell — ‘a small fish in a large pond’ phenomenon,” Moore said. “It was a hard time for me and I’ve come back from it much stronger,” he added.
Moore believes his semester off from school has helped him gain focus.
“While I was away I worked really hard to ‘get back into shape’ and I am a lot more confident now and I hope that I will get a chance to demonstrate that,” Moore said.
He believes that, if elected, being a member of the Common Council would be a considerable time commitment. However, in his opinion, it would take up less time than all of his past extracurricular activities combined.
Last year he was involved in the Cornell Democrats, the Cornell Civil Liberties Union and the campaigns of several Democratic candidates in eastern Pennsylvania. He has already cut back on his various commitments to make time for campaigning.
“I have had to cut back on my ‘politicking’,” Moore said.
Jane Pedersen, chair of the 4th Ward Democratic Committee, believes that past experience in the public sphere is a more important indicator of future abilities.
“He has performed really well in his political activities and I have full confidence in him,” Pedersen said.
When asked whether a person’s academic record should be considered in choosing a candidate, Pedersen said, “Obviously it is just a piece of the entire picture.”
As far as Moore specifically is concerned, “I have no access to his academic record nor would I want to,” Pedersen said.
Moore is also endorsed by the Cornell Democrats and receives their full support.
“I don’t think that it will affect his ability in any way and I have full confidence in him,” said Alexandra Sanchez, president of the Cornell Democrats.
Archived article by Liz Novak