GETTING
POLITICAL
Students campaign and serve as election judges LUCY LOCHMOELLER news staff
MARISSA MATHIESON news staff
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art by MA RIS SA M
ATHIES
ON
ith the presidential primaries currently taking place, many have been paying close attention to politics. As a result, students have become involved in campaigns, hoping to make a difference. “I definitely think it’s beneficial to get involved in politics and vote,” junior Giselle Grench said. “It’s good to be involved as much as you can and get others involved. After I’m a student judge, I will definitely make sure to recommend this experience to others, so they can learn too.” Students who get involved in politics stay informed throughout multiple elections, helping them learn about current events. Last year, senior Sean Ferguson became involved with politics by helping former canidate Andrew Yang’s campaign. “I am very actively interested in politics,” Ferguson said. “I make sure to watch the debates and read the newest articles about the caucuses, primaries and the 2020 race. I worked on Andrew’s campaign for about five months as it grew from a small grassroots campaign to a serious contender for the nomination. I worked with a team of originally about 15 other people, which expanded as we worked.” A typical day helping Yang’s campaign was spent communicating with the team about important issues, handling replies and using a platform called Help Scout that organized responsibilities across the team. “Campaign volunteer work is necessary for a candidate to really get a foothold in a sea of other candidates,”
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Ferguson said. “I think I helped Andrew Yang, just by working bit by bit, to get as far as he did. I also think I helped clarify his message to hundreds of people over the Internet.” Whether it is staying informed or helping someone read a ballot, being a student judge for a day can help the voting system run smoothly. Student judges help by handing out ballots and informing the public on how to fill out a political ballot. “It is the responsibility of the people at that location to make sure they are taking care of [the voting process], that everyone can vote and that the process runs smoothly,” social studies teacher Molly Beck said. “There are all sorts of things, and the only way this works is through volunteers and paid workers.” By taking the time to assist individuals and helping the system run, students hope to help in upholding others’ rights to have a say in the government. “These volunteers and workers make sure that people get access to their constitutional rights,” Beck said. “I think, essentially, it’s upholding everyone’s right in a democracy because everyone has the fundamental right to vote.” However, being involved in politics and helping spread a message isn’t limited to student judges or campaigns. There are a number of other activities that encourage students to get involved in the elections. “At Ladue, we have [a lot of clubs that] seek to bring people together by just talking about issues that all of us are facing,” Beck said. “Community organizations and activist groups that are issue based, or any clubs and organization at the high school level, can allow you to take action on issues that you care about both at school and in the larger community.” Students at Ladue can easily begin their journey in politics by asking a social studies teacher for suggestions or staying informed through the media. By taking the first step, students have plugged into an area of interest and gotten involved. “Everyone can make a difference by getting involved in politics,” Ferguson said. “If you fight for what you believe in and try to find the government representative — in this case Andrew at the presidential level — that fights for you and others, you can help change the world.”
SPREAD DESIGN BY M. MATHIESON
