Chris Batchelder Three-year Upper Manchester-by-the-sea, MA What activities do you participate in? What’s the most important? Why? I run track and cross country. Cross country is my biggest thing because I love the team, the sport and there are great coaches. I also do a community service project where we meet up with a group of kids from Lawrence and observe stars in Gelb and teach them about astronomy. Why are you running for president? I am running for president mostly to bring the students together. I really feel like I have knowledge and a handle of modern means of communication, like the internet, and also talking to people… I believe I can bring the students and faculty together and make them feel comfortable talking to each other and expressing ideas together. How do you view Faiyad as a president? Which of Faiyad’s ideas/practices would you like to continue? What would you do differently? I really do like Faiyad. He is a very good public speaker and he had a funny campaign speech… I have seen him lead some Student Council meetings, and he’s very organized and on point to help people use their voice and bring up his or her opinions… He has done small things like putting two-ply toilet paper in the bathrooms. He is stressing the Green Cup Challenge, which is very important… At the same time, paper towels in bathrooms, more water fountains in academic buildings and other similar problems that come up every year haven’t really been addressed. What is the single most important issue that Andover faces? Please discuss specific measures that you will take as President to address this problem. Students have a fear of the administration… I want to make it comfortable for students to be able to talk to the faculty. They are just human, and they will listen to you. As long as you can encourage the students to be vocal about some of the issues, they can find a way to get them solved. Do you think that the Student Council is ineffective? Why or why not? How will you address this ineffectiveness (if applicable)? I think the Student Council does effectively address issues and gets things done. For students who haven’t heard of it or been to any meetings, they don’t find it effective. The Student Council needs to encourage students to give their input and show up to meetings. They are very organized… and they do a really good job at sharing ideas between them. I would probably utilize technology, like Facebook groups, Panet discussion boards and videos to get people more interested. Prioritize the following: student body unity, relationships with administrators and school reforms (whether it’s rules or otherwise). Student body unity, then relationships with administrators and then school reforms… Student body unity is really the root… of how the school works. You need people that can work together and work as a group efficiently, or you will get nowhere. You need to communicate to then be able to establish strong ties with the administration. School reform is last because school reform cannot come without the first two… I think it is important to keep certain aspects as they are. Some of the ideas on your platform have been proposed in prior years, and yet the candidates have been unable to execute them. What are you planning to do differently that will make sure that these plans are actualized? I am definitely going to be pro-active… As it comes to greenness there are a lot of buildings with a lack of recycling bins. Also, I really feel like students don’t appreciate how much food they waste in Commons… Water bubblers in dorms would be really helpful to cut down on water bottles. Posters or reminders on Panet would be really helpful. How do budget cuts play a role in your proposed ideas? It is hard to work around budget cuts. The school is really effective at raising money. We did a lot of fundraisers for Haiti. If we get both clubs and the student body and Student Council to raise money…would help add up for the small things. Manwei Chan Three-year Upper Westchester, NY What activities do you participate in? What’s the most important? Why? Drumline, Diving, JV Baseball, JV Football. Why are you running for president? I want to make Andover a better place. I want to get more students’ voices heard. Having a personal connection with many students through all the dorm reps and class reps would help. How do you view Faiyad as a president? Which of Faiyad’s ideas/practices would you like to continue? What would you do differently? I think he has been a solid president. I think the school president should reach out, and Faiyad does a good job, but I guess he could be connected to more people throughout the school. What is the single most important issue that Andover faces? Please discuss specific measures that you will take as President to address this problem. Sleep deprivation is the biggest issue. In the winter, the February freeze could be moved to the beginning of the school day for a sleep-in. But what is most important to me on my platform is bringing back Xbox live. Do you think that the Student Council is ineffective? Why or why not? How will you address this ineffectiveness (if applicable)? I think they are effective, because they actually have done things that would probably not have gotten done if they weren’t there. Prioritize the following: student body unity, relationships with administrators and school reforms (whether it’s rules or otherwise). Explain your choices. The most important is for Andover to become a good, united community to work and live in. Reform is next because once you have unity, you want to make it the best for all the kids at Andover. Relationships would come last because it isn’t the most important aspect to help get things done. We can still get things done without a perfect relationship with the administration. Some of the ideas on your platform have been proposed in prior years, and yet the candidates have been unable to execute them. What are you planning to do differently that will make sure that these plans are actualized? I know people, for example Techmasters and day students, from different groups at Andover. That connection will be an extra step above other candidates. I know I have a solid relationship with a lot of people from different groups. If I know the specific problem with that group, I know a more specific route to get that problem fixed. How do budget cuts play a role in your proposed ideas? A monthly Green Cup Challenge that pits clusters against clusters would save money for the school, and it would help us be greener at the same time. That extra money could go towards supporting the ideas I have. Ijeoma Ejiogu Three-year Upper Queens, NY What activities do you participate in? What’s the most important? Why? Gospel Choir, Breadloaf Pen Pals, Children’s Place, Vice President of Af-Lat-Am, Upper Rep and Prefect in Nathan Hale. The freshmen are a really important part of this campus, so you want them to have a great impression of the school… I am also helping start a mentor program for 11th grade girls. Why are you running for president? I love this school. It is tough, and sometimes I want to get in a hole and cry. But I have grown a lot here, and I think it would be a good way to give back. It would be a great gift from the school to lead it. How do you view Faiyad as a president? Which of Faiyad’s ideas/practices would you like to continue? What would you do differently? I think he is a great president. Being on the Student Council, I have seen his personality and leadership shine. He is a really relaxed person. He wanted to try to change the Isham system, and now students can go back to their dorm and take breaks where they are comfortable. I don’t think I would do much differently, because I don’t know if he has done anything differently than previous presidents. What is the single most important issue that Andover faces? Please discuss specific measures that you will take as President to address this problem. The student’s stress level is prevalent and everyone knows it is there, but it is not addressed a lot. We need more yoga classes. Jackie Lender’s idea of changing the cycles for the test weeks would help too. I hope it is feasible to be able to change that by talking to the department heads. Teachers will still get their material out and be able to test what they need to. Do any of the points in your proposal specifically address stress level? I think continuous dining would help. Without it, it is kind of plug-and-chug work with no opportunity to get food. Not everyone has money to go to the Den. Do you think that the Student Council is ineffective? Why or why not? How will you address this ineffectiveness (if applicable)? I don’t think so. Student Council doesn’t always have to be attacking issues. We are the face of the school… I think it is a great way for students to lead, because the whole school can’t talk to trustees, but the Student Council can help. Communication would help change that perception, because they feel left out, and not a part of the process. I think clusters and dorms are a great way to get people’s feedback. If prefects could go and talk to the students if there is a problem, it could get relayed to Student Council. Problems are spoken about every day, but it is a matter of Student Council hearing those problems. Using WPAA as an outlet, a slot for a radio show, with the president, vice president and secretary every week would help broadcast what they do. Prioritize the following: student body unity, relationships with administrators and school reforms (whether it’s rules or otherwise). Explain your choices. Once you address reform issues, you can better attain student body unity. Once they are happier and more cohesive, the student body won’t feel as much hate to the administration. Solving the problems that students feel are prevalent will make the students happy, the student body won’t feel any negative energy towards the administration. Some of the ideas on your platform have been proposed in prior years, and yet the candidates have been unable to execute them. What are you planning to do differently that will make sure that these plans are actualized? Taking little steps can make a difference. It is a big school, and you want to have someone to be able to talk to. Mrs. Chase used to have tables in Commons to talk to her, but that seems to have gone away. She is another venue for problems to be expressed. We can invite specific student groups to talk about specific issues. Only two people came to the first Student Council table this year, but hopefully with better advertisement next time, more people will come to the Student Council tables. How do budget cuts play a role in your proposed ideas? Budget cuts definitely play a role with continuous dining. I think the administration might be afraid to put money into more food. It is an idea I want to do that will be difficult. Even if it isn’t continuous at first, but for a short period between major meals, it would be helpful. It could be someone’s work duty to manage some snacks in lower left. Jackie Lender Three-year Upper Lynnfield, MA What activities do you participate in? What is most important and why? Last year I was Lower Representative, and this year I am Upper Representative for the Class of 2011. I have also been the Day Student Representative for two years. I co-coordinate ARC, am a two-year member of the Student Activities Board, an Andover Ambassador and a participant of Model UN. Co-coordinating ARC and being the Upper Rep would be the two most important activities that I participate in because they make a visible impact on peoples lives. Why are you running for President? I think that Student Council has much potential to produce for the students, but a lot of actions that they are taking are not made visible to the community. I would like to take noticeable actions in which students can see the results. How do you view Faiyad as a president? Which of Faiyad’s ideas/practices would you like to continue? What would you do differently? Faiyad has made himself very accessible and open to the students, which is definitely an admirable quality in a school president. I’d like to continue in his steps by being the voice of the students, and being able to fight for them. As it is now, the senior board has most of the authority in Student Council. If I were president, I would spread the work among the younger members of council so that there is more unity during decision making. What is the single most important issue Andover faces? Please discuss the specific measure that you will take as President to address this problem. A lack of communication as to why certain decisions are made causes a separation between the students and the administration. Because these decisions affect student life, we, as students, have the right to be kept informed. If I become president, I plan on creating a website called “State of the Academy” where bi-weekly video blogs are uploaded by Student Council and faculty in response to the students. Do you think Student Council is ineffective? Why or why not? How will you address this ineffectiveness (if applicable)? I think that Student Council has all the right intentions, but students aren’t able to see direct results, which makes it seem ineffective. I would change the focuses of meetings to produce more visible change. Results that students want to see such as online overnight forms and online grades will take the same amount of time as other, smaller issues addressed during Student Council meetings, but will give students satisfaction through tangible results. Prioritize the following: student body unity, relationships with the administrations and school reforms (whether it’s rules or otherwise). Explain your choices. School reforms are definitely the most important, but it goes hand in hand with relationships with the administration. I think student unity would come after those two concerns because unity between students is more of a Blue Key Head issue. Some of the ideas on your platform have been proposed in prior years, and yet the candidates have been unable to execute them. What are you planning to do differently that will make sure that these plans are actualized? My track record speaks for itself – when becoming Lower and Upper Representative, I promised things on my platform that I came through with (Upper white water rafting trip and other events). I feel capable that I can follow through with all my ideas because I have made sure that they are feasible plans. How do budget cuts play a role in your proposed ideas? In addition to ideas that do not cost money, such as school spirit week and online grades, I want Student Council to fundraise with ideas such as teacher auctions (where you can receive anything from bro lessons to water balloon throwing privileges to any faculty member) and Student Council calendars. Also, applying for Abbot Grants are a great way to gain the support and money we need to go forward with ideas. Mike MacKay Three-year Upper Westford, MA What activities do you participate in? What is most important and why? I was, and still am a part of Student Council for Lower and Upper year as Class Representative. I am in the Yorkies, part of theater productions, in Under the Bed, and was captain of JV lacrosse last year. Student council is the most important for me because it is an elected position, and you have to represent the students from your grade. Why are you running for President? I am running for President because I want to change the way people view Student Council. I want it to be less of a bureaucracy with too much administrative influenc and more of a student run organization. How do you view Faiyad as a president? Which of Faiyad’s ideas/practices would you like to continue? What would you do differently? Faiyad is doing a great job connecting the Student Council to the administrative faculty, and even though I can’t pinpoint one big thing that he’s accomplished, he’s done a lot of little things such as sending an economic survey out, organizing the Green Cup Challenge, revising the constitution and revamping the Blue Book. I’d like to make Student Council more involved, however, by adding an interactive Facebook group as well as making more organized Student Council meetings. What is the single most important issue Andover faces? Please discuss the specific measure that you will take as President to address this problem. I think there is a sense of disillusionment on campus, where students are so centralized on their own academic lives, that they forget to see the big picture. They end up getting involved in too many activities, and spread themselves too thin. In short, I want to make life easier for these students. By tackling little issues such as easier transportation and easier parietals, instead of age-old problems that cannot be changed, I will be one step closer to making life easier at Andover because, not to be cliché, but we’re all in this together; we’re a family, and I don’t want anyone falling off the bandwagon. Do you think Student Council is ineffective? Why or why not? How will you address this ineffectiveness (if applicable)? Student Council is sometimes ineffective because of organizational problems. I have realized that if I do things on my own, it will create a snowball effect for others to follow my lead. Prioritize the following: student body unity, relationships with the administrations and school reforms (whether it’s rules or otherwise). Explain your choices. I think student body unity is most important because you want there to be relationships and unity among the students. School reforms and administration relationships come next, and they go hand in hand because Student Council is a subservient body to Mrs. Chase and the administration. Some of the ideas on your platform have been proposed in prior years, and yet the candidates have been unable to execute them. What are you planning to do differently that will make sure that these plans are actualized? I’m not pushing at the same issues that cannot be fixed due to OPP budgets and so on and so forth, but I am ready to meet and talk to the right people to make sure everyone is on board with the plan, which will help things get done faster. Also, in most cases, the saying ‘too many cooks spoil the stew’ is in full effect. Certain projects can be accomplished with only one or two people, and having all of Student Council work on it simply adds weight. Basically, I’m setting goals to finish and accomplish what I have started. How do budget cuts play a role in your proposed ideas? Budgets have not affected my plans because ideas such as community biking are things that the Abbot Grant Association funds. Also, student discounts have already been negotiated because downtown vendors rely heavily on PA business. Other plans such as parietal reform, car permission, testing during penultimate week and online textbooks are ideas that won’t require stretching the budget. Other smaller, student-friendly ideas such as “Great Lawn – A – Palooza,” where students can camp out on the Great Lawn are budget friendly ways to create better student unity. Patrick Wolber Three-year Upper Nashua, NH What activities do you participate in? What is most important and why? I am a prefect in Rockwell, I coordinate Andover Filmmakers Club, I am in Under the Bed, participate in track and am captain of Cross Country. Being a prefect is the most important for me, because along with being time consuming, I like getting to know the new Juniors. My first year was difficult, with my leave of absence, and I want the new students to be able to have a smooth transition so they don’t have a situation like mine. Why are you running for President? I think I fit the job description; I have an open ear, am a source of encouragement, but am also able to argue… for the students. How do you view Faiyad as a president? Which of Faiyad’s ideas/practices would you like to continue? What would you do differently? Faiyad understands himself well and does not succomb to any pressures to be someone he’s not. I would introduce more open dialogue to change Student Council’s efficacy, and create a system in which students have more direct control. What is the single most important issue Andover faces? Please discuss the specific measure that you will take as President to address this problem. Not losing personality through the drudgery of work is hard, but we need to continue to orient ourselves towards our interests. The best thing I can do is to lead through example. Do you think Student Council is ineffective? Why or why not? How will you address this ineffectiveness (if applicable)? I think that Student Council is ineffective because they seem to be attacking the wrong ideas. Their primary concern should be working for more potency in administering change; their meetings should be centered on that. Prioritize the following: student body unity, relationships with the administrations and school reforms (whether it’s rules or otherwise). Explain your choices. I think student body unity is the most important because relationships with other students come first in day-to-day life. I also think faculty/administration relationships are vital because of communication with teachers. School reforms doesn’t seem to affect our everyday lives, so that is why I don’t emphasize importance on that. Some of the ideas on your platform have been proposed in prior years, and yet the candidates have been unable to execute them. What are you planning to do differently that will make sure that these plans are actualized? If I become president, I am going to start a booklet of ideas I want to address in Student Council. We need to portray an attitude of perseverance by creating reforms that cannot be given up on. How do budget cuts play a role in your proposed ideas? None of the ideas that I base my platform on have to do with budget; ideas such as a system in which students can address faculty about their teaching styles. There’s no reason to agitate something that we don’t have money for.
