StuCo Exec Outlines 2019–20 Plans at Assembly

During assembly last Tuesday, the 2019–20 Student Council (StuCo) Executive Board outlined their plans for the schoolyear. Through an interactive presentation which featured chocolate bars and an ice cream social, the board sought to excite the student body with overviews of their projects in the making.

StuCo President Ayush Noori divided this year’s plans into three major categories- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI); Major Student Life Initiatives; and Committee Initiatives. While committee initiatives have always been a part of StuCo’s agenda, Noori emphasized a focus on DEI and Student Life Initiatives after learning about various student interests from the ‘Cookies and Convos’ event last spring. “We sought to devote our resources where we had the greatest capacity to tangibly impact student life and take action on issues important to the Student Body as identified by the Cookies and Convos event,” he said.

So far this year, the Committee on Community, Equity and Diversity, with the help of the Public Relations (PR) committee, has already completed one of the DEI projects, a financial resource information brochure. These brochures are available around campus. CCED is also heading a workshop for student listeners that aims to create more financial equity on campus.

This year, Student Life Committee is working on smaller events that can enhance Exonians’s experiences at the Academy. “[We are working] to bring to campus hammocks, dorm whiteboards, charging stations, chalk for sidewalk artists, day student potlucks and potentially many more cool ideas,” committee head and senior Ben Wright said.

Among committee initiatives was Student Life’s recent thank-you card event where StuCo members and dorms wrote cards to express gratitude to staff members who serve the Exeter community.

Student Council Co-Secretary and upper JaQ Lai said that emphasis on Student Life was an effort to improve mental health on campus. “We’re focusing on efforts that will relieve stress,” he explained, reiterating the same specifics Wright laid out.

Dining Hall Committee plans to revive the dining hall recipe contest where students submit family recipes that dining halls can consider integrating into their menus. “The whole purpose is to share the cultures of the students with the Exeter community through cooking their home meals right in the dining hall,” committee head Haruka Masamura explained.

After a successful Lexie’s food truck last Friday, Recreation Committee is looking to continue bringing food trucks onto campus for students to enjoy. “We are also organizing more food trucks based on what students request from us,” committee head Maegan Paul said.

In terms of the rest of the year, Recreation Committee’s focus is on improving Spring Fling as well as reviving Beach Ball. They have decided to bring back Beach Ball due to growing interest and number of students who have reached out to them about it.

Faculty advisor Anne Rankin observed the council’s intentions to fulfill the needs of the entire Exeter community in the projects slated for this year.  “They are working hard to think about the whole school, not just issues that affect a small subset of the community,” she said.

In order to make the plans come to reality, Noori noted the importance of committees’ accountability and efficiency. “We are working on accountability and we have done so by taking attendance and checking in with the committees,” he said. “These [values] are things we continuously focus on.”

According to faculty advisor Laura Marshall, these measures have already affected the community, encouraging more constructive work within the committees. “I think it has translated into a lot more engagement during meetings and more productive work being done by committees,” she said.

Looking into the future, Noori is enthusiastic about working with StuCo to constantly improve student life at Exeter. “This year, Council is exceptional. Council members are motivated and dedicated, so, in addition to the projects which have already come to fruition this year, we have the potential to engender lasting change in our community,” Noori said.