What was initially an interest in the candidates’ perspectives and plans on the voting process and events for the school year, transformed into a riveting tale of attempted sabotage. This year’s student council election was met with many critiques and concerns by the candidates and classmates. We were able to get interviews with the elected student council members and information about potential sabotage.
Let us first begin with the process of student council elections at George School in the 2023-24 school year:
- Start by completing an intent to form and getting 25 classmates in your grade to sign off on their support for you.
- Next, one is asked to submit a blurb on why people should vote for them.
- After deciding to run, they are allowed to hang posters around the school with unique quotes to get people excited about voting day.
- On September 15, 2023, the polls opened for 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students
- Students were each given four slips of paper to fill out two boarding student and two day student nominations. Then, place those slips into their designated grades voting box.
- The results of the elections were then announced on September 20, 2023.
Congratulations to the winners from each class
SENIORS JUNIORS SOPHOMORES
Adam Jean Jaia Tucker Majd Abu Tahoun
Muke Akume Ziza Brownie Mira Abu Tahoun
Anatalia Cambridge Jessie Lee Angie Le
Tati Lominy Jon Trouba Kavya Gounder
Jake Whent Noori Nagra Jillian Yao
As active members of the George School community, students went to vote during lunch on September 15th. But were shocked by the way the voting process was conducted. Rather than filling out an online form or at least signing in to mark their names down as voted, they were handed four slips of paper and told to find a pen and vote for 2 day students and 2 boarding students. Then they could place the slips in their grade’s voting box and collect a sticker. Even with the simplicity of the voting process I couldn’t help but see all this space for error. How would they know if we voted more than once? Who was checking the slips to make sure we didn’t pick more day students or more boarding students? Was anyone monitoring the boxers to make sure we voted for our correct grade? Why weren’t the slips unique to the student council in that they were all plain white and could be cut by any other student to gain more votes? My questions continued to pour out the more I examined the voting process, I had to get answers.
I reached out to the winners from each class to hear their perspectives about this year’s elections and to ask for their opinions on their experiences throughout the process, from campaigning to voting day. There was a consensus that the voting process should have been similar to last year’s (online) and not have all grades at once. Then, as we asked about campaigning and what their strategies were, an interesting topic arose: sabotage.
Whether intentional or not it still happened and there is no way to ignore it. One of the most common ways for a student to let their grade know they are a worthy candidate is by creating posters with fun slogans, pictures, and plans. When their message is purposely covered or torn down it is not appropriate. The manner in which a candidate conducts their campaign directly correlates with their voting outcome. I sympathize for those running who had to endure this but it also speaks to the reality of campaigning and elections. It is an unfair power struggle to make your name, voice, and face most memorable and heard.
In the coming years, students should expect voting processes to be tightened and better regulated. The goal of our student government is to ensure that students’ voices are heard, it was acknowledged that this can only be achieved if the student’s voices are understood in voting. Additionally, we can expect a focus on mental health, nutrition in the dining hall, and a greater expression of student concerns. A final congratulations to all of the new class representatives, Curious George and the rest of the school are excited about the progress you hope to make. Progress is not possible without passion and our community’s continued need for the voices of the individual.
