Freshman City Council Members Chosen by Student Gov’t
Student government members review freshman candidates.
Photo Credit: Armin Pasukanovic
By IHTSHAM CHAUDHRY and ARMYDA ESCOBAR
As the new school year kicked off with a fresh start, members of the freshman class had the opportunity to run for the new City Council. However, unlike previous school years, there was no freshman student vote. Instead, candidates who were qualified to run were interviewed by the current Student Council to select the freshman representatives.
“This year we are doing a trial run and attempting to remove the positions of freshman president and vice president.” said Senior President Jonathan Li ’20. “We believe that freshmen students do not know their classmates well enough and should not be subject to public elections until their second year in Midwood. We think this will be the best option to give freshmen the time to become acquainted with the school and better serve their class.”
The four freshmen chosen for the new City Council (see front page) are Marvens Camille, Samia Farid, Emaan Arif, and Kiavana Garraway.
Mayor Tanisa Rahman ’20 said, “We still want freshmen representation throughout their first year. However, we also recognize that after a month, freshmen don’t know their peers well enough to be a judge of their character.”
“Past freshmen have mentioned that they only chose a candidate because they were good looking,” said Rahman. “We don’t want students to discern people who are ‘popular’ from the very beginning; we want to remove that construct.”
Camille said, “I decided to run because I want to make a change, I want everyone to get along, and I want to make sure everyone feels safe and respected.”
Other candidates included Marie Fleurival, Sarah Lanys, Rachel Bedeau, and Sherlyn Escobar.
“As a freshman,” Fleurival said, “I believe we should have a larger voice in the hornet community. I also believe we should expand our performing arts program.”
One of Bedeau’s goals was “to make it easier to navigate the school,” she said, “maybe putting up maps at both ends of the school and one in the middle of the hallway so incoming freshmen like me can find their way around.”
Overall, Rahman said the ideal representative is one who is kind and caring before all else.
“I personally see leaders as caretakers -- maybe it’s because they call me M.O.M.” she said, “But ultimately this person will seek out concerns within the population and actively look for resolutions or improvements that seem necessary. This is not someone who wants to have a ‘title.’ We want someone who wants to learn and grow out of their comfort zone and better themselves and their community.”
Representatives are going to be responsible for fixing and updating the bulletin boards, being in the COSA office (417) at least three days in the week, participating in School Spirit days and Midwood events, and sharing any important information that kids should know through social media or other communication.
Owaish Khan ’22 said, “Being in student government is amazing. This position, or any position in student government, allows you to grow mentally and develop your own ideas. Being in student government positively impacts your life and allows you to know your school so much better. It also allows you to be a part of a family that loves you unconditionally.”