Arongo, Santos, Gruss Elected Prep Reps

After the polls closed at seven on Tuesday night, new Student Council prep class representatives Alejandro Arango, Cameron Gruss and Gustavo Santos were ecstatic to find out that they had been elected to be the voice of the class of 2017.

"I thought it was a great privilege to meet all of the other students and really get to know them. It really made me think that each student here is an individual," Arango said, describing the experience he had while campaigning.

"When I heard about it I got really interested, because at my old school I was class president, so I thought it’d be cool," Santos said.

"I want to try to voice all the preps’ opinions and tiny ideas, because it’s just easier to come to someone your own age than to come to an upper or somebody," Gruss said.

The election was run well by Student Council’s Election Committee and had a strong turnout thanks to the 160 preps who voted. "This year’s voter turnout was very good. More than half the class voted, which we count as a success," senior John Kennealy of the Election Committee said. "The election was similar to last year’s. There was no drama and it ran pretty smoothly."

This year’s race saw an increase to 14 candidates from last year’s nine. "I think the overall interest in Student Council has been very high this year. We have a lot of kids who aren't in elected positions who joined committees and want to be select members, and that's reflected in the number of people running for prep rep," Student Council President Alice Ju said.

The prep representatives are already planning for the year ahead. "I’ve talked to Alejandro and to Cameron and we’re hoping to get more of our word in as the preps, to create more prep involved activities, and more things for us to do on campus," Santos said.

The new representatives recommend Student Council to other interested students, whether or not they become a representative or join a committee. "I recommend running just so you can get to know your classmates in the process whether it be to represent them or help in Student Council in general," Arango said.

"It gives students a voice, as opposed to just the school. The school has to have some student backgrounds... so I think it’s just amazing that real students, kids, can make changes in the school system."

"It gives students a voice, as opposed to just the school. The school has to have some student backgrounds, people who are actually going through school every day, studying, so I think it’s just amazing that real students, kids, can make changes in the school system," Gruss said. Arango agreed on the impact that Student Council has as a medium through which students can express their opinions and initiate changes on campus. "I have to say that StuCo definitely represents the students efficiently from what I can tell. Students can really get their voice out there, even if they are not a member," Arango said.