In recent weeks, the race for School President has sparked a firestorm of controversy about the possible existence of female discrimination in Andover’s presidential history. These debates have raised many questions about the nature of our student government and the mindset with which we elect our leaders. In the wake of these discussions, I would like to draw the student body’s attention to a different kind of issue—that of the perceived legitimacy of the Presidential role, and the effect that it plays in student elections.
A widespread opinion on campus is that the elections are based on the popularity of candidates rather than their qualifications. I have heard far too many people complain that they are not even going to bother voting in this coming election because it is nothing more than a popularity contest. At times, the disdain has become nearly palpable. “No one takes it seriously,” explained one two-year Lower to me, “because the class president doesn’t do anything.”
In my opinion, this statement could not be less true—in fact, it might even be the fundamental problem that we deal with when discussing student elections. Far from having little to no impact upon our community, a class president represents the entirety of the student body. It is therefore imperative that we take these elections seriously because the performance of our chosen leaders is a direct reflection upon our community’s perception and decision-making skills.
Furthermore, running for School President is by no means an easy job. Each team that remains in the election right now consists of members who have no doubt spent large amounts of their time formulating the ideas from which they have carefully constructed their platforms and speeches. The dedication and sense of responsibility this requires already reflects positively upon the determination and character of our candidates. It is not only unreasonable, but also inherently unfair of the Andover student body to disregard the efforts and aspirations of our candidates solely based on the preconceived notion that they are incapable or unwilling to make a difference at this school.
Andover’s student government, like all other democratically elected governments, is entirely subject to voter opinion—in this case, that of the student body. Therefore, if our community is noting a lack of positive change being administered by our student government, then it might be time for us to consider that perhaps we are not electing the right people. Likewise, if we are unsatisfied with the decisions our presidents have made in the past then it is our responsibility to take more care in choosing members of our student government in the future.
The Class of 2014 presidential candidates have done their part in creating strong platforms for this election. Now it is our turn to fulfill our responsibility as voters: examine the nature of the ideas presented, make decisions with a well-established awareness of what we are voting for, and perhaps most importantly, to recognize the fact that the president election is not necessarily a popularity contest or a joke. Rather, it is exactly what the student body decides to make of it—and it is about time we took responsibility for that.
Grace Tully is a two-year Lower from Reading, MA.
