What a Student Body Wants From the Next President
The Great Race, 2016. Photo from The King's College Facebook page.
Annabelle Ford contributed to this report.
Current Student Body President Kat Thompson announced Friday the candidates for her succession, Stuart Clay (‘18) and Michael Martinez (‘18).
The campus is alive with discussion about hopes for what the next student body president will bring to the table with dozens of issues at hand, from athletics to spiritual life.
“Sometimes everyone focuses so much on the Houses they forget we are one community,” Jess Mathews (‘18), President of the House of QE1, wrote via email. “Since Houses are run so differently, it's important to have someone that knows how to get them to work together and strive to keep the school from division.”
As the size of the student body increases in numbers and diversity, some student leaders are hoping that the new SPB and Council commit to fostering schoolwide community.
“The Council needs to make sure that students who are coming from different places, different faith backgrounds, different ethnic backgrounds, and different socio-economic backgrounds are all able to find a home here at King’s,” Mathew Salavitch (‘17), of the House of Lewis, wrote to the Tribune.
Other students believe that pushing the school and students to appreciate athletics more could be valuable in building community.
“King's athletics are vital to the growth of this community. ... Our SBP needs to care about athletics and convince the student body to come out and support their peers, as it is an essential way to build school-wide community,” Joshua Sampson (‘18), Helmsman of the House of Churchill, told the Tribune.
Sampson see student athletics as an opportunity for the school to rally as one.
“Regardless if students disagree about politics, policies, or whatever, they know that they can come to a basketball game or soccer game to cheer on their college with one another,” Sampson added.
Another area students would like to see growth in is the Council’s spiritual life initiatives.
“We are a Christian school and cannot be Christians in the classroom only,” Salavitch (‘17) wrote. “I think there are opportunities to increase the number of spiritual outlets for students, whether that be through the House system or student-body-wide initiatives.”
Isabelle McCauley (‘18), President of the King’s Players agreed, telling the Tribune that she would love to see more investment in spiritual life.
“It would be awesome to see the cabinet illuminating the gifts of the students across the student body!” McCauley also emphasized, speaking as a member of the arts community at King’s.
She suggested that this could mean allowing students to perform at already existing events, or encouraging smaller showcases.
Looking at the position as a whole, Emma Brown (‘17), President of the House of Ten Boom, writes what she thinks is the best thing the next SPB can do for King’s.
“Be in constant dialogue with the necessary parties in order to best serve as the liaison for the student body on the whole,” Brown stated.
Overall, it looks like the student body is passionate about a number of issues that will surely come out in next week’s debates. Stay tuned as the Tribune continues its close coverage of the SPB election.