The presidential ballot this election season will have no shortage of candidates to choose from, with six members of the junior class launching their campaigns in hopes of winning the office of Student Government President. Six candidates is unprecedented in recent Parker history.
“If I had to define my campaign in one word, it would be innovative,” junior and Presidential candidate Tallulah Koenig said. Koenig’s first point is revitalizing the Committee system. Some highlights include a new Director of Publication and Council Affairs and new committees such as making Anti-Bullying Club (ABC) a Committee, a new Activities, Connection and Engagement (ACE) Committee, and an Arts Committee. “My biggest goal is that you could walk into Parker and feel welcome around anyone,” Koenig said. Koenig also intends to allow Publications and Councils to meet during Committee time.
Her second goal is to put the “student in Student Government.” Koenig hopes for increased social media involvement, having 360 Review hold a Town Hall at the end of every semester to provide Cabinet with feedback, and to add a voting structure to Cabinet in order to make efficient decisions on dividing issues. “I know a big problem is that people feel like proposals take too long, and I think if we had a voting structure, they would get through Cabinet quicker,” Koenig said.
Koenig’s last goal is to improve transitions and understanding for underclassmen. Koenig hopes to partner with the MS Student Council to create smoother transitions. In the Upper School, Koenig plans to create a system to have members of Cabinet work with students to write proposals.
“If you asked my friends, they would say that I am very, very motivated when it comes to Student Government,” Koenig said. “I think it takes someone who is qualified, understands Student Government, and somebody who’s innovative.” Koenig has been in Student Government since freshman year. Koenig has served as 360 Review Rep, Secretary, and a Senate Head. Outside of Student Government, she runs Big Sis Breakfast and she’s creating a Little Heroes League Board to help children in the NICU. To Koenig, the main thing that sets her apart from the other five candidates is her involvement in Student Government for the past three years. “All of my policies are centered around hearing what other people want to change,” Koenig said.
“My word would be community,” junior and presidential candidate Conor McGuire said. On his first goal regarding Committees, McGuire plans to add more relevant Committees and remove Committees that no longer serve the student body. Additionally, he wants to allow Committee heads to choose the number of people in their Committee.
“There’s a hole where these Committees used to be, and there’s an opportunity for students to find what they’re passionate about,” McGuire said.
To encourage healthy discussions, his second goal, McGuire hopes to plan more Small Groups throughout the year as well as providing additional opportunities for students to share opinions. “I think it is important that Parker is, and remains, a place where students with different backgrounds and experiences can come together to have these discussions,” McGuire said.
As for McGuire’s third goal of making the proposal process more accessible, he would post amendments online and create community guidelines.
McGuire served as Sophomore Class President. Outside of Parker, McGuire leads groups at dance. “I think it’s important that we have someone who hasn’t had prominent roles in Student Government because every year, candidates promise change,” McGuire said, “and I don’t see how you’re going to get change if the candidates who promise change are already in power.”
Throughout his presidency, McGuire wants to increase participation. He plans to “bring people’s passion for outside of Student Government things into Student Government.”
“My one word would be radical,” junior and presidential candidate Trisen Phillips said. His first goal is an unconditional war on hate.
“A fourth of the grade leaves every year and a fourth of the school gets welcomed every year, and we’re still preserving this hateful culture,” Phillips said. He plans to address the student body often and create more Small Group discussions.
Phillips’ second goal is holding Student Government officers accountable.“There are so many positions that don’t really get regulated,” Phillips said. With this goal, he aims to redefine the purpose of Student Government, with one of the ways being to increase proposals. “Freshman year, I was able to utilize the fitness center,” Phillips said. “Since then, the facilities have not been open. I don’t understand why students can’t use the facilities we already have. That’s something I would bring into Student Government.”
Phillips’ third goal is to rework Committees to make students excited about participating. He plans to work with the DCA and meet with all Committee Heads frequently. Beyond the Committees themselves, Phillips will allow Councils & Publications to meet during Committee time. During the Student Government block, Phillips hopes to hold events, such as debates, as well as allowing students to come up to the mic regardless if he is speaking or not.
Some of Phillips’ main qualifications include Senate Head, co-head of the Black Student Union, cofounder of the Christian Student Alliance, a Students of Color Alliance leader, cohead of the Colonel Crew, Equity and Inclusion Chair for the Youth Reproductive Justice Summit, and interning with High Jump.
Phillips believes that the main issue facing the Parker student body is that when someone “chooses to truly express themselves, they’re considered not part of the community,” Phillips said, and he plans to address that issue throughout his presidency if elected.
“To describe my campaign, the word would be listening,” junior and presidential candidate Jackson Flaum said. His first goal encompasses student involvement – one of the policies being cycle meetings alongside any member of the student body who wants to participate. “Let’s put the people who can make change within your reach,” Flaum said. “If it’s athletics, if it’s curriculum, I will get your voice heard.” For underclassmen, Flaum hopes to meet with the Directors of Cross-grade Communication (DoCCs) and the Parliamentarian in order to catch freshmen up.
His third point under involvement is a new Presidential Representatives task force composed of the Social Media Manager, one Senate Head, a Student Athletic Council Head, and the Inclusion Coordinator, and volunteers from each grade.
Flaum’s second goal is valuing students’ time. He aims to have a “middle ground” between announcements and entire MXs. “Let’s get students celebrated, and let’s make it accessible,” Flaum said. In addition to this, he proposes that the Social Media Manager make posts such as: “If you could ask this presenter one question, what would you ask?” following presentations.
Aside from Assembly times, Flaum has plans to reform Committee agendas and logistics, and to hold Committee Heads accountable by making them submit agendas. To make sure that the system works, Flaum will instate representatives in each committee.
Flaum’s third and final goal is communication. He would send “morning-of” agenda emails before events such as Plenary and Senate, and to go along with these emails, he intends to create a Student Government Portal page. Another highlight under Flaum’s communication goal is hanging up posters of Student Government agendas and events around the school.
During his time on the MX Committee, Flaum had experience with tight scheduling. Outside of Student Government, Flaum has been a member of the Men’s Mental Health club.
“It has shown me a lot about the Parker community that I live in and has given me a new perspective on the people I walk past in the halls every day,” Flaum said. He hopes to help the Parker community introduce that side of themselves at school.
“I am an avid conversationalist. I want to hear what everyone has to say,” Flaum said, “even if it’s not necessarily something everyone wants to hear.”
“I don’t want to use a generic word. I would say whimsical,” junior and presidential candidate Aragon Goldman.
“I want to change the culture around Student Government,” Goldman said. His first goal is making Student government worth attending, starting off with new opt-in roles such as Debaters, Moderators, and Presenters, tying into a new Plenarian of the Week. Plenarians of the Week will get the opportunity to be “Prez For The Day,” one of Goldman’s ideas for new Student Government formats.
Regarding the Proposal process, Goldman hopes to implement an introductory debate. “That’s going to be the core of Student Government for me. It won’t just be me talking,” Goldman said. Another one of Goldman’s points is spotlights at the beginning of Plenary.
Goldman aims to make Student Government “Fun, Competitive, and Rewarding” in his second goal. To incentivize students to participate in Student Government affairs, Plenarian of the Week can be won through simple challenges like entering a drawing contest in the Student Voice. “Student Government shouldn’t feel like a waste of your time,” Goldman said. Incentives under another point include cross-grade Committee competitions, with prizes such as gradewide pizza parties. Goldman would work with the DCA to achieve this goal.
Goldman’s third and final goal is making voices easily heard. Goldman intends to create a midstep for proposals by using a new weekly email. “I want to change the system of either you do nothing or you rewrite a piece of the Constitution itself,” Goldman said. The weekly email, another point of his, is for students to respond to it with changes they want to see. “I’ll bring it to Cabinet, and we will work with you on the proposal,” Goldman said.
As for Committees, one major change Goldman plans to implement is a proposal system for Committees to have special activities and fieldwork times as well as a way for them to request specific times to meet.
Goldman’s past experience includes Senate Head, ABC Head, and Peer Helper. “I try to help people as much as I can. People don’t have to be my best friend – I would never say no,” Goldman said. “I’m not necessarily running on my merits. I’m running on my vision for what Student Government can be.”
“I’m going to say my campaign is meaningful,” junior and presidential candidate Fiona Chazen said. Chazen’s first goal is to make the proposal/voting process more efficient, understandable, and accessible. “I’m going to prioritize efficiency within the process so no student feels like we’re wasting time,” Chazen said.
Her first policy under this goal is to work with the Parliamentarian to introduce Proposal Labs where students can come to lunchtime workshops and write mock or real proposals. In addition to this new proposal program, Chazen will implement presentations on proposals and voting, working with DoCCs to to help freshmen acclimate to Student Government processes, and a Senate at the beginning of the year where a mock proposal is amended.
To make proposals accessible, Chazen will have a proposal/resolution guide available on the Portal, along with other resources. “I really want students to feel excited about Student Government,” Chazen said.
For her final point under this goal, Chazen aims to make Student Government more efficient by sending out information emails before voting on a proposal, a guaranteed Senate spent to discuss and amend the proposal, and a structured timeline for each proposal. To further this goal, Chazen wants to have Senate Representatives count votes.
Chazen’s second goal is to improve student experience and connection. Chazen hopes to have Student Government spirit days and engaging challenges at Plenary. To address wellness, Chazen will partner with different clubs and organizations at Parker to give short presentations at Plenary, and she will work with the DCA to have a minimum of one committee meeting dedicated to a relaxing activity. “It is so important that every student feels supported in their mental health,” Chazen said. Her final point under this goal is “rest and recharge” times during Plenary.
Chazen’s third goal is to expand student voice and perspectives. If elected, Chazen will make Small Groups and Town Halls action-driven rather than just talking about issues. In addition to community times, Chazen aims to create a “Think Tank” program along with the Executive Advisor and Small Groups Leaders, where students will get the opportunity to discuss pressing subjects. “When we had a Think Tank program this past year, I thought it was very impactful,” Chazen said.
Chazen intends to introduce a Student Issue Submission Form. On the form, students would be able to request Small Groups or Think Tank topics. She also plans to encourage more spotlights during Plenary.
Finally, Chazen wants to increase transparency in Student Government. “Students should know that the things we do in Student Government do lead to change, and change is necessary,” Chazen said. Chazen will release updates, covering Senate topics, proposal implementation, and Small Groups issues.
Chazen’s qualifications include Student Government Social Media Manager, Co-Founder of the Parker Groovers, Co-Founder of the Girl’s Golf Team, and Co-Head of Berkowitz Committee. Outside of school, Chazen has volunteered at dance programs and founded Good Vibrations, teaching dance to hearing impaired students. When she joined Parker in Middle School, Chazen helped make tampons free at Parker. “In my life, I have always strived to be a leader. I truly want what is best for every student,” Chazen said. “I hope my positive energy at Student Government will rub off.”
Parker’s Election Day is May 5. As candidates prepare for the big day, the Upper School has a choice to make – a choice that will determine who leads the student body next year.
