To the Editor:
With the advent of a new All School Meeting policy, we, the Andover student body Co-Presidents urge the administration to reconsider their decision. For those unfamiliar with the change, the new policy dictates that for All School Meetings this year, Juniors, Lowers, and Uppers from a different cluster each week will not be seated in the chapel. Instead, these students will be seated in Kemper Auditorium, attending virtually via live-stream.
The main reason for this new policy is because there is simply not enough room for students and a significant amount of faculty to simultaneously attend All School Meeting. The administration has also posited that All School Meeting is not truly “all school” without participation by members of the faculty, a sentiment that we full heartedly agree with. We take issue, however, with the proposed solution.
The exclusion of members of the student body will disrupt the communal environment of All School Meeting. All School Meeting is the only time where the Andover student body will congregate in a given week. This time is so cherished because it fosters community through the literal shared space on campus and also the shared experiences such as listening to invited speakers, performers, and our own peers. Watching such proceedings via live stream grossly undermines the intended nature of the meetings.
If you feel strongly about this new All School Meeting policy, please speak up: there is a middle ground we can reach that involves creative thinking, but we need your voice. If you are concerned about this change, please reach out to us or another member of Student Council so we can convey your feelings to the administration. We have always believed that All School Meeting is an important tradition that brings the school closer together, and we will not stand by as it is dismantled.
Sincerely,
Eastlyn Frankel & Sam Bird
Student Body Co-Presidents
With the advent of a new All School Meeting policy, we, the Andover student body Co-Presidents urge the administration to reconsider their decision. For those unfamiliar with the change, the new policy dictates that for All School Meetings this year, Juniors, Lowers, and Uppers from a different cluster each week will not be seated in the chapel. Instead, these students will be seated in Kemper Auditorium, attending virtually via live-stream.
The main reason for this new policy is because there is simply not enough room for students and a significant amount of faculty to simultaneously attend All School Meeting. The administration has also posited that All School Meeting is not truly “all school” without participation by members of the faculty, a sentiment that we full heartedly agree with. We take issue, however, with the proposed solution.
The exclusion of members of the student body will disrupt the communal environment of All School Meeting. All School Meeting is the only time where the Andover student body will congregate in a given week. This time is so cherished because it fosters community through the literal shared space on campus and also the shared experiences such as listening to invited speakers, performers, and our own peers. Watching such proceedings via live stream grossly undermines the intended nature of the meetings.
If you feel strongly about this new All School Meeting policy, please speak up: there is a middle ground we can reach that involves creative thinking, but we need your voice. If you are concerned about this change, please reach out to us or another member of Student Council so we can convey your feelings to the administration. We have always believed that All School Meeting is an important tradition that brings the school closer together, and we will not stand by as it is dismantled.
Sincerely,
Eastlyn Frankel & Sam Bird
Student Body Co-Presidents
With the advent of a new All School Meeting policy, we, the Andover student body Co-Presidents urge the administration to reconsider their decision. For those unfamiliar with the change, the new policy dictates that for All School Meetings this year, Juniors, Lowers, and Uppers from a different cluster each week will not be seated in the chapel. Instead, these students will be seated in Kemper Auditorium, attending virtually via live-stream.
The main reason for this new policy is because there is simply not enough room for students and a significant amount of faculty to simultaneously attend All School Meeting. The administration has also posited that All School Meeting is not truly “all school” without participation by members of the faculty, a sentiment that we full heartedly agree with. We take issue, however, with the proposed solution.
The exclusion of members of the student body will disrupt the communal environment of All School Meeting. All School Meeting is the only time where the Andover student body will congregate in a given week. This time is so cherished because it fosters community through the literal shared space on campus and also the shared experiences such as listening to invited speakers, performers, and our own peers. Watching such proceedings via live stream grossly undermines the intended nature of the meetings.
If you feel strongly about this new All School Meeting policy, please speak up: there is a middle ground we can reach that involves creative thinking, but we need your voice. If you are concerned about this change, please reach out to us or another member of Student Council so we can convey your feelings to the administration. We have always believed that All School Meeting is an important tradition that brings the school closer together, and we will not stand by as it is dismantled.
Sincerely,
Eastlyn Frankel & Sam Bird
Student Body Co-Presidents
