StuCo Executive Board Candidates Begin Campaigns

By ANGELA HE, ALEXA MOREL, LEVI STOLL, and MEGHAN TATE ZEE

The posters are up. The campaign pitches are rolling out. Exeter’s student council election season has begun. As the newly announced candidates prepare to make their case, the campus is full of chatter about who will take on the school’s most influential student leadership roles. With promises of change, continuity, and more fresh fruit in Elm, the race for the next StuCo executive board is underway.

On Jan. 30, Exeter’s Student Council revealed a list of students running for executive board positions, marking the start of a competitive campaign season. Candidates will spend the next few weeks pitching their platforms, talking to students, and closely observing the student body. Meanwhile, the current board members look back, giving advice and thinking about their hopes for what the next board will accomplish. As the race heats up, the student body is busy considering their options. 

Upper Andrew Gould is one of the five vice presidential candidates. He is currently the recreation committee co-head and has also served as dorm rep and grade rep. “I’m the only VP candidate with real experience working with administrators and fighting for student interests while leading a committee,” Gould said. “I encourage voters to ask every candidate: What have you actually done for me? Policies and promises are one thing, but the real question is: Who has the experience to get things done? The role of the Exec Board is to be an effective mouthpiece for students, and I’ve already demonstrated my ability to do just that.”   

Co-secretary candidate lower Dani Méndez has been a part of the student council since her prep year. She is currently a class representative and often works closely with the student council public relations committee to make posts on the Instagram account. Méndez added to the objective of dining hall development, “I’m passionate about improving the dining hall experience. It’s essential that we offer inclusive, diverse food options to meet the needs of all students. I advocate for the regular availability of both halal and kosher options, as well as a variety of delicious non-vegan and vegan choices. Everyone deserves satisfying and nourishing meals.”

Gould commented on the goal of dining hall reform, “I also want to ensure that students have a real say in dining hall decisions. We eat in the dining hall every day, yet past Student Councils haven’t prioritized student feedback when it comes to food choices or major changes, like removing disposable cups or paper plates in Wetherell. If elected, I’ll push for direct student feedback on dining decisions to make sure our voices are heard.”

“I want to focus a lot on the dining hall reform,” added co-secretary candidate Artur Novaes Ferreira. “The food is not necessarily bad, we just need to expand the options.”

Co-secretary candidate lower Euphoria Yang’s goal is to put more funds and efforts into Exonian’s mental health. Yang stated, “I want to have more wellness events because I think we spent way too much money on bringing public performers such as comedians and DJs. We had a few comedians come last year and less than 30 people showed up. That’s less than 3 percent of the student body and I think that if we have more wellness events, such as organizing yoga classes or giving out stress toys we could allow more of the student body to be affected by this, and they would be positively impacted.”

Méndez shared a similar sentiment: “I’m committed to maximizing the potential of our committees to create positive change on campus. Specifically, I envision the Mental Health Committee acting as a bridge between CAPS and faculty to ensure students receive the support they need. This would include advocating for extensions or offering flexibility from professors, even for students who may not regularly see a CAPS counselor. Mental health support should be accessible to all, and I believe this initiative could help ensure that.”

Co-secretary candidate lower Ari Benenson stated, “I plan to replace the current feminine hygiene products with higher quality products. Replace the cardboard tampons with biodegradable plastic tampons which are eco-friendly and would improve the day-to-day lives of the female-identifying students. From my understanding, free access to high-quality feminine products on our campus is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity.”

With campaigning in full swing, the build-up to voting day for the Student Council elections is quite programmed. The candidates will debate, campaign, and use word of mouth to try and persuade their classmates that they are the best person for the position. This election cycle involves campaign statements and posters across campus, and even embellished, thoughtfully crafted social media posts. Once elected, these new executive board members will transition into their roles with help from the outgoing board in a turnover process.

Although it can be a balancing act between campaign efforts and schoolwork for many candidates, engaging with the student body is a key part of the process. “StuCo should be a collaboration platform,” said Student Council President and senior Cam Khater.

Current board members are also reflecting on their time in the position and the expectations they have for the new board. “The executive board has a job not only to spearhead a lot of the issues, but it has a job to elevate other people’s voices,” Khater said, “It would make sense for the executive board to take on this sort of genial manner and to encourage a lot of people to come to Council.”

Current Vice President Anna Holtz shared an ongoing goal for the next board to pursue: “I want the next board to continue to work towards bringing back pre-Covid traditions and culture.” She also expressed her desire to stay involved with the council even after turnovers, stating, “I will be a resource to Exeter StuCo for any questions.”

Once the election results are in, this new board will replace the current one, stepping into roles that will form and mold what StuCo will be for the coming year. In transition, they’ll have to articulate just how campaign promises turn into real action and make sure the students aren’t left out of the process. As Khater put it, it isn’t just about the things getting done; rather, it’s about making sure the student council truly represents the student body and gives everyone a voice.

On Tuesday, Feb. 4, all candidates will have made a public appearance in the Assembly Hall during the Student Council meeting period. This event will be an enlightening side-by-side display of what this year’s candidates have to offer as well as an opportunity to see their faces away from the campaign posters on the walls. 

A day later, the first elections will be held: a primary round for president as well as general elections for co-secretaries and vice president. On Friday, Feb. 7, the top three presidential candidates will debate in front of the whole school during assembly. Immediately after this debate, the final presidential election will be held. 

The 2024 United States presidential election constituted a massive transformation of our federal government. This election may be just as impactful. Ultimately, the students will decide on the course head for the Student Council.