On October 23, 2024, Morgan students Talia Le, Michael DeRenzo, Katie Nguyen, and Student Body President, Mason Jakober, met at the Henry Carter Hull Library for one of their biweekly Academic Affairs committee meetings, a committee that aims to better and support student academics. Their goal that session was to brainstorm and expand on ways to get students more academically involved, for the betterment of student life. This committee is part of a bigger project that the student government put into action earlier this academic year, all after Jakober drafted the new committees just weeks before they were put into action.
There are six new student government committees, all of which aim to focus on different aspects of student problems in order to find solutions. Whether you want to be involved in the academic affairs committee, which is aimed at bettering student academic life, or the student welfare committee, which addresses topics like bullying and mental health, the student government promises that there will be a committee for everyone. Furthermore, with any student being able to join, the committees can adapt to its member’s needs, as the students solely run them.
“Committees can set their own agendas and meeting times, conduct surveys or polls, manage allocated budgets, draft legislation or resolutions for a vote by the student government, and plenty more,” said Jakober. The individual meetings are held biweekly in either the Henry Carter Hull Library or room A37 of the Morgan School, making the committees easy to join and participate in for all students in The Morgan School. Because of the large variety the committees present, their official actions will impact all students as well.
“The committees affect everyone in the education system, really from the bottom to the top, primarily the students,” said Jakober. “Any student can become a member by just simply emailing myself, Mrs. Luther, or the respective committee chairs.”
Spanish Teacher and the current staff advisor of student government, Mrs. Luther, agrees with Jakober in wanting to have these committees for student government. This is in order to increase student involvement in governance, allow more students to participate, and give students a stronger voice in decision-making. “We wanted to put that in because it seemed like we could invite more people to participate, and also just get more student involvement so they can have more of a voice,” said Ms. Luther. “I’d like to emphasize, though, that if you want to truly make a change for the betterment of the student body, you must show up to the meetings.”
This seems to be a common idea amongst Jakober and Mrs. Luther, especially since, as they stated in The Student Government Constitution article, many students cannot find a voice for themselves or do not pursue change since they believe their voice is not powerful enough — these committees aim to change that. The more students who work towards change together, the more effective our student voices will be as a big collective group.
Although the student government committees are open to any student who wants to join and be a part of that bigger change, there is reluctance amongst the rest of the student body due to a variety of reasons.
Senior, Spencer Hoadley, believes that there is simply a lack of information about the committees for non-members of student government. “If the committees just had a little bit more information about what you actually did there, like who you’re interacting with, what you’ll be helping with and doing, I’d feel more enticed to join,” said Hoadley. “If I joined this committee, what aspects of the school would I, you know, be able to work with or work on?”
Furthermore, another senior student at The Morgan School, Sebastian Litz, believes it should be clear when the meetings are and what they do, for students who may be like him, not having a lot of extra time. “I think they just don’t have time, and it’s entirely possible they don’t know enough about committees.” In addition, Litz believes that if the student government advertised the committees more, it may entice more students to join. “I just think that if they put it out there more, like you get emailed a list of what the committee is and what it does, and why you might be interested in joining, I think that might help get more people in. Just explain more what you would do, so someone may find themselves useful in that committee.”
Although the committees are aimed to make positive changes for the students, there is a drawback due to a lack of advertising and lack of information about the committees. Even though this is true, the student government wants all students to consider getting involved, as it is a fun and engaging way to make student life better for everyone. If you want to get involved or get more information right now, an email to Mrs. Luther or Jakober will provide you with that until they proceed with promoting the committees more seriously.
