Typically when discussions of politics pop up in school, it’s either in a safe environment like debate class or in a chaotic setting at lunch. When it’s the latter, people tend to duck and hide when the argument gets too heated. However, when it concerns the StuCo elections, it’s a healthy and fun competition.
“I really love StuCo, I love to be involved,” junior Emily Azpell said. “I’m the Junior Class Vice President right now so StuCo is something that I love to be involved in. I love making the school better and Senior Class President has a lot of roles that encompass that.”
High Standards
To be running in the election for the following school year, candidates had to meet a certain number of standards.
“There are different regulations to be in StuCo, but to be on executive or have an officer position you have to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, a 95 percent attendance rate and you can’t have any disciplinary issues that require ISS, OSS, or arrests or anything illegal,” sophomore Hannah Berry said. “Each office has their own requirements as to duties and what they do.”
Out With the Old, In With the New
Like a real government, there are differing positions with distinct obligations and functions in the office altogether.
“There are four class officer positions for the sophomore, junior and senior class,” StuCo adviser Melanie Crawford said. “The freshmen class doesn’t have officer positions, we consider that a learning year. When students that are currently in eighth grade come up as freshmen they’ll be representatives. Sophomore, junior and senior all have four officers that are President, Vice President, Secretary and this year we’re changing the title to Historian.”
Previously this position was the treasurer, but because of changes the historian position is in charge of documenting all events and meetings for purposes in the future.
From Posters to Posts
In addition to the new historian position, new and innovative methods of campaigning are making way this year for the candidates.
“They’re placed on the ballot, they maintain their campaign and they can hang posters throughout [the school],” Crawford said. “This year we asked them to make their own video and in years past we’ve just had them show up and we videotape them in a room doing a little introduction. This year we allowed the students to do that and kind of have their own creativity and make their own videos on their own and submit those.”
Since mostly everything is digitalized now, students in the election have found a creative outlet to get their word out and spread their campaign.
“My campaign is #teamtalati. It’s kinda like the Royals, ‘let me help the class of 2019 raise our pennant.’ We have posters, but I’m taking a lot of it to Twitter having me posting for it or having friends. It’s just a lot of making sure everyone gets the word out. Sometimes you can’t do that in person, so social media really comes in,” freshman Khushi Talati said.
To have a successful race between the candidates, the main key is to keep a positive spirit no matter what happens during the election.
“I think there’s an opportunity to make a difference and feel involved at whatever thing you’re in. I think I have a much more relaxed tone about elections, not in a bad sense, but just that it’s not the end of the world if I don’t make it or it’s not me. I can still make a difference whatever position I am in,” Berry said.
The election doesn’t only effect the candidates, but the entire school as well. Even though you might not be running in the election, your voice and ideas are vital to how LHS runs.
“My main focus is just to try to get people involved, because people are always in other clubs and they can’t be on StuCo. You don’t have to be in StuCo to be involved in school, so that’s why I want to get people’s opinions and bring it in StuCo to know that this is what they want and this is what students want to do so they can have fun. StuCo can’t really happen without students wanting to have fun,” freshman Tiffanny Huynh said. “The events wouldn’t be a good turnout if students don’t like the events.”
All in All
The election is a chance for the student body not only to elect new officers, but to also say thanks to the former officers that have made past events enjoyable and memorable.
“We aren’t just the people that make posters, We have a lot of responsibilities,” Downing said. “This year we were responsible for the Homecoming parade, powder party, Homecoming dance, BIONIC week, a week of community service, Spike it Up, the glow dance, Prom, Mr. Liberty, graduation, the list continues.”
Among the candidates that have run for office positions in previous years, resilience is an important trait to possess.
“For me it’s a little bittersweet because last year I ran for Junior Class President and I lost in a very close race from what I’m told,” junior Sarah Parrott said. “It’s bittersweet because I almost let that stop me from running again because I thought ‘oh I don’t want to lose again’ ‘I don’t want to go through that again’ but I didn’t let that stop me so hopefully good will come out of it.”
For students interested in joining StuCo next year and/or being involved in the election process, there are a few qualities that would be beneficial to acquire.
“Basically we’re just looking for students who are committed, who are willing to work hard and put in the effort to make all the things that we plan to go well and to represent the student body,” Crawford said.
StuCo not only represents the student body, but the students who choose to be apart of it.
“I genuinely love what I do on StuCo. It’s my thing, just like band, or baseball, or theatre is someone else’s thing,Student Council is mine,” Downing said.