Being Realistic: A Closer Look at StuCo Elections

Student Council (StuCo) elections are underway once again and I cannot help but be troubled by the candidates’ wild agendas that have been laid out before the student body. Increased activities, reformed policies and new eating centers were all mentioned last Tuesday. Some of them caused concern and others a short laugh. Any candidate that mentioned a closed-door visitations (V’s) policy reform or transparency in the discipline process has lost my vote.This is not because I wouldn’t be happy if a visitations transformation oc- curred or the disciplinary process became more transparent. The only thing I am concerned with is StuCo’s productivity. I would much rather witness modest ac- complishments made by StuCo each year than watch inflated promises leave students empty handed. Voters should be focusing on the more practical plans that can be accomplished in a year’s time rather than lucid claims for a big revision to an age-old policy.

One of the most wonderful, and dangerous, things about voters is that they often have a short memory. We were already promised a transformed visitations policy

and a more transparent disciplinary process one year ago, which makes it even more ridiculous that we are still hearing these proposals today.Dorm heads nearly unanimously voted down the visitations policy change and Dean of residential life Arthur Cosgrove spoke in front of StuCo last term, essen- tially ensuring that a transparent disciplin- ary process is far from probable.Voters and officers need to move for- ward and look for other projects and re- forms to keep us busy until the time comes when our faculty can be persuaded that closed-door V’s are a good idea. Perhaps when greater arguments can be made, and more importantly, understood, the student council can take another swing at changing the V’s policy. Until then, please move on.Let’s not waste time on something we already know will not come to pass. StuCo candidates and voters need to keep in mind that Phillips Exeter Academy is a faculty-run school. If an executive board is pushing for closed door V’s, the officer must go through the faculty and obtain a majority vote. Student Council President Alice Ju did exactly that when she present- ed the reform in front of Exeter’s 29 dorm heads, a meeting that unfortunately ended the policy’s hopes for the rest of the year.Unless candidates can present a clear plan to replace all 29 dorm heads before next fall, the V’s policy is not going to change, no matter how many clubs you lead or how many cat/crew jokes you can make. When voters consider a candidate’s proposal, it is important to consider how the faculty will receive it.If the candidate has backed up their ideas with solid arguments that will cause our faculty to lean in our direction, then we will have success before the end of fall term next year. However, if they have nothing more than desire, will and inspira- tion, I would suggest joining another club, perhaps Model United Nations.When voters go to the polls, I urge them to think “practical and probable.” Which candidate’s promises will faculty support with some persuasion? Of those candidates, which is most qualified to lead the student body and follow through on their promises? Those questions lead me to vote for candidates that I am happy with, and I hope they help you, too.