Tam students ran for the 2015-2016 class office positions of each grade on May 4 through May 8, during which students could visit the voting table by the student center and vote for their choice for their grade’s treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president.
Leadership teacher Jessica Variz worked with her co-teacher Tim Morgan and the rest of the leadership class to provide the student body with a greater say in the election process, giving them more control in decisions around campus.
“We wanted to make elections more public,” Variz said. “Our hope is that officers will have a greater presence in their classes, so students will know who to go with questions, ideas, or suggestions.”
Students felt having more access to the voting was a good thing. “I think it’s very important for students to vote,” junior Tommy Searle said. “It gives them a way to get more involved.”
Student candidates generally agreed that whether or not they win, the election process was a good experience for them. “I think it’s a good experience because you have to put yourself out there and campaign,” junior Colette Lowry said. “It allows [candidates and voters] to be more involved with [Tam’s] leadership process.”
Variz also believes that running for office is a good experience for high school students to have. “Running for office is both a challenging and rewarding experience,” Variz said. “I think some kids worry about losing the race and [so] they avoid running altogether. But the most valuable experiences you can have in your life often involve some sort of risk. Even those candidates who don’t get elected have improved their communication skills, and gained more confidence in their abilities as student leaders.”
With the new school year just around the corner, changes are bound to take place around campus. Variz believes that the change is going to be for the best.
“Regardless of who wins, classes at Tam will be represented by passionate, creative leaders who want to make a difference both for their class, and for the campus as a whole,” Variz said.