David Marsh ‘06 admits he sounds like the typical Type A personality.  President of the Associated Students of Occidental College (ASOC), varsity athlete and hall coordinator, he also was involved in the revision of the student government constitution and is helping plan a campus-wide spring fair.

“I’m not all about business,” he says with a laugh. “I also enjoy going back home to Hawaii to lay out on the beach, spend time with my family, and hang out and relax with friends.  I need balance in my life, a give and take.”

That balance has helped David weather his term as president, overseeing the implementation of the new constitution. “This is a transition year for student government,” says the economics major. “It’s one thing to put your idealized version of government on paper; it’s another to put it into action. I’ve learned it takes flexibility and a willingness to learn from your mistakes, rather than going in there and assuming whatever decision you make is right.”

One improvement, says David, has been the addition of a General Assembly, which meets once a week and gives students an opportunity to interact directly with government. “It’s like an open house where anyone can come and present resolutions, which then go on to the Senate.” Another first-year accomplishment was extending weekend hours at the Tiger Cooler, a full-service snack bar.  The Cooler is now open until 3 a.m., providing students with an on-campus place to hang out, eat, and listen to music.

The range of activities David has found at Occidental was just what he was looking for when he visited campus as a high school student. “I wanted a small liberal arts college that had lots of different opportunities I could take advantage of the first year.”

The College’s location also has given him an outlet for another of his interests: Food.  “I love going to restaurants.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be good.” His favorites include banana cream pie with coconut crust at a local Thai restaurant and pistachio ice cream and crab cakes in nearby Pasadena.  “Two of the things I most enjoy and that help me relax are taking walks and going out to eat with friends—being surrounded by people who are important to me and make me laugh.”