Freshmen lose STUCO election, have hopes for next year

Written by Susannah Mitchell

Carefully shading in Batman’s cape, freshman David Ronning mindlessly doodled in his spiral during second hour. Freshman Taylor Hawes sat next to him, and colored in the white patches of her backpack with a cherry red marker. Mrs. VanNice was teaching evolution, but both Ronning’s and Hawes’ minds were elsewhere. They were both attempting to distract themselves; he scribbled while she shaded.

Ever since they’d each woken up, they’d been sitting on the edges of their seats, because they would find out the results of the sophomore STUCO elections at the end of seventh hour. Both Ronning and Hawes were anxious about the results of the elections, as they were both running. During class, Ronning checked his phone and noticed he had a missed call from the night before. When he checked his voice mail, he received the news.

On Friday, March 30, Ronning, Hawes, and freshmen Maggie Rose Bridges and Kate Kovarik learned they’d lost the sophomore STUCO elections.

“I was sitting in Geometry seventh hour,” Hawes, who ran for Vice President, said. “[Then] it was 2:39 p.m. and the intercom clicked on. I heard [Senior] Carolyn Welter announce the names of the people who won. ‘Kate Mitchell is Vice President.’ I didn’t even hear who won president. I was too focused on the fact that she hadn’t said my name. I hadn’t won. My stomach just suddenly felt empty.”

To apply to run for a position on Student Council, students had to attend one of four meetings. During the meetings, Brenda Fishman, one of the two STUCO sponsors alongside Hannah Pence, gave a presentation on the duties and responsibilities of each position. After each meeting, students were required to fill out several applications, and turn them in to Fishman. Students were required to sign up on a white sheet of paper called “The Slate,” and turn in their speeches to Fishman to revise.

The week prior to election week, all candidates had to give a speech before their entire class, or on the announcements.

“When I sat down on stage and looked out at everyone,” Hawes said, running her hands through her hair. “I knew I was terrified. Then as the crowd settled down, all of my nerves just went away. I was calm. Then as I stood up to give my speech, everything came rushing back and I felt like someone had punched me. Then all of a sudden, it was over.”

During election week, students were allowed to vote from Monday to Thursday on any school computer. Voting ended Thursday at 3 p.m., and the results were announced Friday in seventh hour. Students who had won were notified Thursday night; although a few who hadn’t won were also told of their fate, including Ronning.

For sophomore elections, two students ran for each position. Annie Savage and Maggie Rose Bridges ran for Treasurer, David Ronning and Maggie McGannon ran for Secretary, Kate Mitchell and Taylor Hawes ran for Vice President, and Kate Kovarik and Sydney Bahr ran for President. Both Ronning and Mitchell decided to re-run for their current positions.

“I decided to run for secretary again because I was secretary this year and I loved the work and the job,” Ronning said. “[It’s just that there are a lot of] responsibilities that come with the job.”

The candidates for the sophomore elections both dreaded and eagerly awaited the results. For some, the news was devastating, while for others, it was inconsequential.

“I was just running for fun to see if I could win,” Bridges said. “But I’m still really happy that Annie won.”

Students on Student Council can decide to either be a representative, a class officer, or a committee chair. Representatives attend the STUCO meetings and work for STUCO, without being an elected officer. Class officers are required to do more work, such as taking notes during meetings, and run for their positions. Committee chairs plan the events that STUCO sponsors, and oversee the other members of STUCO and help them accomplish their goals. Each STUCO member is required to help set up every school dance, attend each meeting, and take turns changing the marquee in front of the school.

“I took it kind of hard at first,” Hawes said. “But [I got] the opportunity to apply to be a committee chair, and they do equally as much work.”

Although Hawes, Bridges, Kovarik and Ronning lost the elections this year, they’re all looking forward to junior STUCO elections, and all four freshmen have been accepted as committee chairs.

“Even though I didn’t win this year,” Hawes said. “It won’t prevent me from working equally as hard on STUCO, and I’ll just try again. STUCO has been an amazing experience, and I’m hoping that next year will be even better.”