Name: Cathy Resler
Hometown: Fairfield, Ohio
Majors: Environmental Studies and Geography, Economics minor
Year: Junior
Credentials: Student Association CSAS undergraduate senator, Residence Hall Association, Dining Services Commission, Students for a Free Tibet, International Affairs Society, Munson Hall Council, Security Advisory Board, New Hall Council, legislative assistant to the SA Senate, SA assistant vice president of Undergraduate Policy.
Web site: http://gwu.edu/~reslerc
Cathy Resler, who is running for executive vice president, has worked with the Student Association as long as she’s been at GW.
She first got involved her freshman year when she experienced difficulties adjusting to campus life. She said she was surprised she could not get a meal during hours that were not part of the meal zones.
So, she joined the Dining Services Commission.
I wanted this school to be what I thought it was supposed to be, she said.
During the next few years, Resler worked with other students to eliminate the meal zone hours and expand vegetarian options in J Street.
Also, during her first year at GW, Resler had a troubling experience in her French class. She said her professor thought that anyone who earned a C grade or lower flunked the class. Resler worked though the SA to change the professor’s grading policy.
She said she hopes her student advocacy will benefit others.
No one was going to do it for me, she said. I’m going to do it so other people don’t have to go through the same problems.
She said she thinks the administration must be more helpful to student problems.
If (GW President Stephen Joel) Trachtenberg says this University is a business, then where’s the customer service? Resler asked.
As a member of the College Democrats and the College Republicans, Resler considers herself to be open-minded. On the political spectrum, she said she’s a moderate who forms an opinion issue by issue.
When she’s not in the SA office, Resler works behind the scenes at Generic Theatre.
I guess I’m a behind-the-scenes person, she said. I want to get things done, but people don’t need to know it’s me.
Resler is currently the only SA senator in the EVP race, and she said she thinks her experience is a benefit. If she’s elected, she said her priority will be to ensure senators are following SA rules.
I want to make sure the Senate members know what they’re doing, she said. The SA works more efficiently when the rules are followed, Resler said.
Resler also wants to increase the SA budget. She said the SA should receive a set percentage of the student fee collected by the University – as GW admits more students, Resler says the SA budget should increase accordingly.
I’m just trying to make a difference, she said. But I can’t think of a non-cheesy way to say that.
