Clash of Council Candidates: Student Council Presidential Statements

Elizabeth Yang:

For the last three years, I have been an involved member of StuCo as a Rec Committee Select Member and as a Co-Secretary. I am familiar with every aspect of Council, including the specific tasks of committees and the inner workings of the Executive Board, and I know what the Council can get done. Currently, I am tackling a number of different projects which I hope to continue working on next year.

Over winter break, I worked to draft a proposal for a new daily schedule that included starting school days at 8:30 am, separating classes and athletics and integrating office hours with teachers. A committee of faculty was created to address schedule reworking, and they kicked off their brainstorming with this proposal. I hope that this committee and the Council will maintain their efforts into the next year and make daily schedule reform a reality.

The OneCard program would make LionCards compatible with Exonians’ favorite businesses in town. Many recognize that this program goes beyond streamlining many purchases to a single card; students on financial aid can use their stipend if they wish, and as for the entire student body, more discounts would be possible.

I hope that this committee and the Council will maintain their efforts into the next year and make daily schedule reform a reality.

Strategic planning continues to be quite a mystery for the student body, but the planning encompasses many things that students should be aware of like cultural competency and diversity in the hiring process and enhancement of the residential experience. Student Council can be an outlet for us to share our perspective and work with the faculty to continue shaping the best Exeter.

With these ideas already taking tangible forms and my openness to listen and serve Exonians to the best of my ability, much is possible in the coming school year. Thank you for your support this past Tuesday, and please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or hopes!

Mark Blekherman:

        Thank you all for your support this Tuesday! Ever since prep year, I’ve been an active member of Student Council, serving as Assembly Committee Head last year and Policy Committee Head this year. As a Policy Committee Head, I’m working on an Alumni Career Interest Night, which should be here in the first week of spring term!

What makes my campaign special is that it advances NEW ideas and adds tangible CONVENIENCE to our lives. All of these points prioritize our everyday comfort and convenience—feasible steps that together amount to a substantial impact. StuCo gets criticized for being inefficient and ineffective, but this can change if we set more concrete goals and make our committees more accountable.

I want to open doors to our convenience, both literally and figuratively. Literally, I want to install an ID scanner on the Elm side of the Library, keep Weth open on Saturday classes, and extend gym hours through the Student Work program.

Figuratively, opening doors means giving you more freedom and comfort. It means a later start time for school (more sleep), funding your club with the StuCo budget, taking standardized tests at PEA (as opposed to EHS), connecting you with alumni for possible internships, later check-in for lowers and online OOTs.

I want to open doors to our convenience, both literally and figuratively.

I have contacted Dean Cos about online OOTs, and he told me that this is definitely something StuCo should pursue. As for standardized tests, it wouldn’t be hard for us to open Love Gym and Grainger on Saturday mornings.

Smaller, reasonable steps add up to the bigger picture and make Exeter a better place. If you haven’t already, please see the video in my Facebook post, as it details some of my campaign promises.

I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the next week and sharing my ideas!