Editorial

No More Mr. Andover

Every year, candidates of both genders vie for top positions at Phillips Academy’s clubs and organizations, with one notable exception: school president. Over the course of Andover’s 36 years of coeducation, the student body has only elected four female presidents. The issue is not solely that girls aren’t winning elections; it’s that they’re not running. This year, only two of the 20 presidential candidates are female. On a campus where several prominent organizations are run by ambitious, intelligent and poised females, the fact that so few girls dare to put their name on the presidential ballot is more than a coincidence. And while this disparity may be written off as a reflection of a national culture that has never nominated a female presidential candidate, Phillips Academy has always been ahead of the curve. Jane Fried, Dean of Admissions, conducted research on leadership at prep schools in 2000. Through a series of surveys and interviews, Fried found that many girls think of leadership positions as positions through which one can make the most difference; boys, on the other hand, tend to regard leadership roles as high-profile roles which exude importance. The Phillipian commends Alana Rush, Assistant Director of Community Service, and Malin Adams ’09, current School President, for organizing the upcoming meeting for Lower girls interested in leadership positions. The meeting will hopefully encourage the girls to be less intimidated by the position of School President and also give these future female leaders an opportunity to form connections on which they can rely on during future endeavors throughout their next two years at Andover. Certainly more than two girls in the class of 2010 are qualified to be School President. With more initiatives like Adams and Rush’s, maybe the class of 2011 will be different. Maybe the class of 2011 will step up where previous classes have fallen short. We have no doubt that both girls and boys can fill the role of School President. But in order for the student body to elect the most qualified candidate, the most qualified students must put their names on the ballot. That only two females are running for president limits the pool of qualified candidates from which students can choose. And if this time next year we find more female names on the ballot, we hope that the student body will approach the election with the same keen eye for merit that has allowed girls to rise to the top of several other organization on campus. We are not asking the school to elect the same amount of girls and boys to be school president, but the election should also not be a “Mr. Andover” contest. It is a campaign for one of the most influential positions on campus, a role that requires commitment, passion and charisma. On a campus with equal numbers of male and female students, The Phillipian has no doubt that such a role can be filled by girls and boys alike. And if that gender neutral position still lends itself to all male finalists, then by all means, let the best man win. This editorial represents the views of The Phillipian Editorial Board CXXXII.