Grayson Schementi
Junior and current Treasurer Grayson Schementi is running on a different platform than Ori and Florsheim. “I’m running because I think at this moment, the Student Government has no legitimacy in the eyes of students, the administration, and teachers,” Schementi said. “A lot of the time, no one knows what’s going on, and I’m running to change that.”
If elected, Schementi hopes to use his position to defend student publications against censorship and change the productivity of Cabinet and plenary. “A lot of conversations we’re having are about how to make a Student Government that doesn’t work operate in a different way that also doesn’t work,” Schementi said. “We’re talking just for the sake of talking, and I want to start talking for the sake of doing.”
Schementi’s main goals for next year include working with SAC to get more student involvement in the Athletic Department, rework plenary’s format, and host more town halls. “Plenary as a format is good about five percent of the time,” Schementi said. “It restricts speech and is a waste of people’s time, and I would make sure that when we don’t have anything to do, we would have town halls.”
Schementi would replace plenaries throughout the year with a Town Hall format where people are more inclined to speak among their peers. “People’s voices would actually get heard instead of the same ten people,” Schementi said, “and those voices could be used to change the school in positive ways that everyone can benefit from.”
Schementi would also push to introduce and vote on external proposals which are aimed at changing aspects of Parker outside of Student Government rather than parts or positions inside. “This year, we only had one external proposal,” Schementi said. “Fixing Student Government doesn’t make sense when we can fix things outside of Student Government.”
To Schementi, the issue is a lack of ideas for proposals and the solution is proposal brainstorming sessions. “If you let people care, some will actually care,” Schementi said. “But if you don’t bring things for them to care about, there is a complete lack of engagement that every presidential candidate for the past four years have mentioned in their platform.”
Schementi also thinks that Cabinet should not limit students from running for positions during the Election Season. “We shouldn’t scare people away with the rules and regulations,” Schementi said. “I understand they’re sometimes necessary, but if I have to jump through ten hurdles to run for Social Committee, it makes people not want to.”
Schementi believes he brings a different perspective than the other candidates due to his two years of Cabinet experience. “As Treasurer, I was talking and forming relationships with the business office,” Schementi said. “As Secretary, I was writing down everything everyone was saying and transcribing student opinions.”
Schementi hopes that voters will understand his ability to make their voices heard and his efficiency in enacting change. “I would serve you the best, and I would be able to make the teachers care about what you have to say,” Schementi said. “By voting for me, you’re voting for a good spokesman who’s able to listen to you and work with you.”
Schementi also thinks the relationships he has formed with students and faculty around the school will set him apart. “I have the ability, leadership qualities, and the relationships built to make Student Government effective,” Schementi said. “It can’t be effective if it’s not legitimate.”