Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Elections December 2011/Candidates/Risker/Statement

Risker
In my three years as an arbitrator, I’ve focused on both infrastructure and casework. I contributed to the development of a community-based checkuser and oversighter corps, as well as the development and functioning of the Audit Subcommittee. I led the drive to ensure that checkusers, oversighters and auditors are expected to be available and active, so that community members know the teams can be counted upon. This included moving the oversight request functions to the OTRS system and guiding the team members who developed the oversight manual. I have worked collaboratively with checkusers from other projects, stewards, and the WMF in improving management of the checkuser mailing list (including removing archiving functions and deleting existing archives) and developing the Checkuser wiki for data retention relating to long-term abuse.

During this work and throughout my tenure, I remained active and involved in the majority of on-wiki cases. I’m not usually the first off the mark, nor am I the last person voting (unless it moves very quickly). I do, however, read all of the evidence for every case I vote on, including the entire discussions from which diffs are taken.

If selected to continue my work with the Committee, I plan to collaborate closely with the WMF on behalf of the Committee to sort out issues involving mailing lists and management of archives, as well as finding systems which fit within the WMF structure to help the Arbitration Committee better manage its incoming requests. This continuation of the work I started on behalf of the Committee in April of this year should have a significant positive impact on Committee workflow and communication.

In considering whether to seek a second term on the Arbitration Committee, I went back to read over my previous candidacy statement and responses to (over 140) questions. I found it reassuring that, despite three years of working with Wikipedians sometimes at their worst, I still hold the same beliefs and follow the same principles: our passionate and diverse community is both Wikipedia’s greatest challenge and greatest strength. To best assist community members in working collaboratively and constructively, the Arbitration Committee must be both frank and fair.

Obligatory statements: I have identified to the WMF. Those who want to know my alternate accounts can see the Candidate Guide or “Alternate accounts and interesting stuff” on my userpage.