Kritsas Cites Goals Stacy Kritsas, Student Council vice-presidential candidate, believes "the vice-presidency is the most useful office in Council" He thinks the vice-president should act as a bridge between the president and the students. He should mingle with the students to find out their ideas and then bring them back to the president. However, Stacy believes the vice-president should not be totally subordinate to his superior. If the president is unresponsive the VP should carry out the student will by himself. "The only place that proposals could get hung up is at the administrative level," Stacy theorized. "I'm not sure how to get around it. Maybe a student sitting in on administrative meetings could help mediate differences between Council and administration." "Underclassmen are willing to give their time to Student Council," Stacy said. "The problem is that they feel they're not a part of the organization. Only upperclassmen are usually on the committees." The first problem is getting a quorum to start the meetings. Due to lack of time, issues which are not clearly stated are packed into the allotted minutes.
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Maine Township High School South, Park Ridge, III. 60068
South Must Unite:' Brachman
The issues are not fully discussed but nevertheless are passed when a quorum is present. The ideas, however, are not carried out, blocked by lazy committeemen and an unresponsive board. Stacy wants to change the stalemated situation. "1 want to eliminate the time factor by getting things done during school instead of before or after when no one is here," said Stacy. "As vice-president, I would make sure everyone did his job in Council. Then maybe we can not only get things done, but get them done quickly."
Dave Brachman '75, presidential candidate for Student Council, feels he is qualified for the job because, "At the risk of sounding trite, I think I can do something for the school." Dave is also a member of Quad Council, a council including representatives from all four Maine schools. He has also found out that Maine South is not alone in the problems it has to face. Other schools are faced with similar difficulties, but they overcome many of them and accomplish set goals. He feels Maine South can do the same. Dave feels that this year's Council has accomplished much in the way of inter-council business. "It appears that Council has been stagnant because its activity hasn't been in front of the student body. The students just take things like V-Show and Homecoming for granted much of the time. They don't realize
Inserra Labels Open Campus, Smoking Lounge Dead Issues
Bo^V? Bobbi Inserra '75 hopes to obtain more student involvement in Student Council if she is elected vice-president. Mainly, I would like to see more things to involve students —more than just sports events," stated Bobbi. "I feel Student Council could sponsor many more events such as more concerts, more sock-
Mar. 6,1974
hops, carnivals, movies, and guest speakers on assorted topics, if the administration would recognize us," she remarked. Bobbi, the junior representative of homeroom complex C114, believes that the lack of student interest in Student Council originates from the fact that "Student Council isn't being recognized as a functional organizati(m by the administration." She explained, "Student Council has many good ideas but the bills are being vetoed by the administration." Bobbi feels the issues of sm(rfdng lounge and open campus are dead and vmdd never be passed by this administration. Bobbi hopes to improve student-teacher relationships if she is elected. She believes that she is qualified because of her sincerity in wanting to help Student Council: "Hopefully, the new policy changing the time for representatives' meetings to the homeroom period will increase Student Council's effectiveness by having more quorums." Bobbi displayed her hope fA a
majority of students voting in this year's election when she said, "My biggest hope is that enough students will vote in the elections. It doesn't make sense when students don't vote in their own school elections."
that Student Council is still working when something like the Busy Signal doesn't go through on time." The energy shortage and the early morning darkness have caused a lack in attendance. This has hampered Student Council activities and has reduced the homeroom reports by the representatives. "We hope this problem of attendance has been alleviated however, by an amendment I co-spK)nsored with Dan McGrath to change Council's meeting times to between 8 a.m. and 8:25 a.m. on Fridays with mandatory attendance," s t a t e d Dave. Ho added that this "new meeting time will enable those who take an honest interest in Council to make all the meetings, and also enable Council to do considerably significant business and hopefully increase student interest. Dave feels that Student Council has one purpose and two functions. The purpose is to provide for the student body a place to express their opinions. Its functions are to provide a student government, and to provide student services. The services include such acts as initiating a girls' varsity gym and a pass-fail gym. The expansion of the honor haU pass system is another project that Dave feels comes under the heading of a sen-ice. These
passes should not be given out on the basis of grades, but instead should be "due to those who have earned them because of past disciplinary records," suggests Dave. As far as student government is concerned, Dave thinks that regular meetings with the superintendent and Student Council for the students' opinion on district policies is a must. Also, adding students to the school board is a necessity. A review of the present disciplinary procedures should be considered, too, he feels. "Each act should be considered under its specific circumstances," Dave contends. "The only way any procedure I want to see implemented can be accomplished is if students unite, and if given something worthwhile to supjwrt, I feel they will unite."
Student Poiticipation
McGrath: Action In Council "I am running because I have a sincere interest in the students of Maine South and the government which represents them. I hope to be able to contribute some ideas that wDl benefit everybody. There are some policies here that should be changed right away," stated Dan McGrath '75. Dan is a candidate for Student Council president. The overall goal of Dan's platform is better communication between the students and administration. Also, Dan would like to initiate a series of pro-
Candidates for '74-'75 SC offices are, left to right, standing: Bobbi Inserra '75, Dave Brachman '75, Mary Peters '75, Dan McGrath '75, and Stacy Kritsas '75; sitting Carol Tomer '75, Sharon Beckman '76, and Mary Hallihan '76.
grams improving participation in school activities. Dan also plans to coordinate action with the other three Maine schools. "We have to move with the other schools in a united effort if we are to accomplish our goals," he remarked. Optional finals, varsity gym for girls, revisions in the attendance procedure and a feasible late arrival plan are facets of McGrath's position. A re-examining of council priorities and more participation by a rejuvenated council are among his proposals. When asked what his election plans were, Dan said, "I will present a practical, concrete, and well developed plan before the administration on every major issue. We have to be realistic and responsible in our actions. I want to start an intensive campaign for all students, increasing activity and interest at South." Dan was elected class council treasurer as a freshman. Last year he represented homeroom C-140 as Student Council representative. Dan is currently the Organizations Chairman of Student Council. One thing Dan would like to see more of in Council is responsibility: "We have an obligation to the students to do what they ask of us and do it in a way commanding support and reason." He would also like to start an advisory council of students, faculty, administrators and community leaders to review ideas and propose plans to the school board. When questioned on the good
and bad points of Student Council and his plans for it, Dan commented, "Student Council as an organization has a lot of potential. There are plenty of talented and concerned kids in Council who are and have been working very hard. What has to happen is for the students to get behind us and we have to commit ourselves to action." "We have to prepare a case to present to the administration on every major issue," continued Dan, "a pitch to g e t them to our side. We have never gained anything by blasting or sabotaging school policy. We have to communicate and show responsibility. The students have to decide what they want and then pursue it. We should take a look at Council's methods. We have the power; we just have to apply it in the right areas."
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