by Amy Duschaneck
Features Editor

Matt, the Wesleyan community is all dying to know: boxers or briefs?

Boxers. Always boxers.

I know people have commented that your advertising might have contributed to winning. What are your views on that?

I think name recognition played a lot into it because I’m constantly sending out annoying e-mails during the year about positions being available. Working with student groups and
getting their support I think played a big role in their voting. I think when people went to vote for their friends in the freshman class and the sophomore class that when voting for a friend
you would also remember whose name you saw.

What about the posters?

I picked Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog. I guess it kind of rang a bell and clicked.

Is it uncommon for a sophomore to be picked as WSA President?

I haven’t seen it in the last two years I’ve been here. I’m not sure about the history. I believe it’s somewhat uncommon.

What are your views on the fraternity and athlete voice in the WSA?

I think that was a little unfounded to say that I hadn’t had that relationship. Rob Wilcox is on the WSA and he’s Captain of the lacrosse team and Taryn Hutchins-Cabibi is captain of
field hockey team and is on the WSA, and I worked with both of them regarding Wesleyan’s position to put teams in the NCAA tournament. What happens now is in the NESCAC
tournament the whole conference plays, and the winner goes to nationals and then the committee chooses three at large teams. At last year’s tournament Tufts took second place in
NESCAC, and they got the at large bid and went on to the NCAA tournament. And they ended up being number two in the nation. They went much, much further than the number one
team from NESCAC. Now the presidents of the colleges of NESCAC want to change the rules so that only the top team goes and there’s no at large bid. 

I’m trying to get a survey out with Taryn and Rob to the students.

Also, I appointed a DEKE brother, David Stone when I realized there’s no voice on the WSA from fraternities. I also appointed someone from Chi Psi when I realized that that was an
important issue. So that voice is there.

What are your plans regarding Chi Psi?

Right now there’s an issue [about] where they have a room. Every fraternity has a room where only the members can go in that room. Right now, with the house being turned into
freshman housing next year, the brothers of Chi Psi want that room to remain locked so no one can go in there because it has their history. I’m going to work now with Sohanna to make
sure that Chi Psi’s room gets locked throughout next year because there’s really no reason for anyone to be in there.

Is there any chance that the room is going to be a part of freshman housing next year?

It shouldn’t. I haven’t fully addressed this issue with ResLife yet. It just came to me yesterday.

What are you majoring in?

Neuroscience and Behavior.

What are your other interests at Wesleyan besides the WSA?

I played varsity tennis last year. I had to give that up because I didn’t have enough time. I’ll be an HR next year in Hewitt and I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend of 2 1/2 years.

What sparked your interest in the WSA?

When I came I knew I wanted to do three things: school, tennis, and then one other thing. When I [ran for WSA] there were ten people running for nine spots and I tied another person for ninth. I didn’t put any effort into it–I just ran. I got my friends to vote. I went to Pittsburg to visit my girlfriend and when I came back I listened to my answering machine because I hadn’t heard the results. I had a message from Matt Larsen who was the Acting Coordinator and he said, ‘We have a little situation. You and another kid tied for ninth. we are gonna have a one-on-one run-off. It’ll be exciting, but if you want to quit give me a call.’ So then I think to myself ‘I don’t want to have a one-on one run-off. I just got here. I don’t have the
energy to do this. The next thing I heard was ‘Well Matt, the other kid quit but I havenít heard from you. See you on Sunday.’ So that’s what got me on the WSA in the first place.

How does it feel going from tied for ninth to winning with such a large margin of 267 votes?

It feels good. I really put a lot into it. I felt like students realized how much time I put into working [for everyone] to have a better social life at Wesleyan. 

What are your plans for the future? Are you interested in getting involved in politics?

I doubt it. I’ve always had an interest in business. I’m doing the Neuroscience and Behavior major so I have a science background. I didn’t do CSS like a lot of my friends in the WSA
because...initially I volunteered with handicapped kids and I felt they were overmedicated. I don’t want to pursue that interest on a science level any more. But, that’s why I first didn’t do
CSS. I’m very business oriented, and I want to do something with business.

Do you intend on running next year for President or is that not allowed?

The President can run next year. But I don’t know what the precedent is. I guess I’ll just see what happens.

Do you have any more questions like ‘how do you make your hair stand up like that?’

Sure! How do you make your hair stand up like that? 

Oh no, you have to come up with them.

Do you plan on having any extra-marital affairs during your presidency?

No. I feel like I’m already married, but, no, I’m not at the moment.

How did you party after you won?

I called both my parents and mom was happy to hear from me and my dad was wondering why I woke him up. My girlfriend was here so we talked and we watched a movie.

What movie?

We watched the movie ‘The Sting.’ It’s with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, it’s about them being con artists. It’s an old movie. I don’t normally like old movies...Then we turned it off
and watched Craig Kilborn. 

What was your housing pick?

I’m going to be an HR in Hewitt next year.

Oh right. You didnít even have a housing pick. So we can’t even pick on you for being in with ResLife.

Of course you can! I’m an HR without even being an RA.

What’s your favorite TV show?

South Park

What was your Bar Mitzvah speech about?

It was to try to behave in school and become a better person– A better student and a better member of the community.

Did it happen?