Between the numerous Opinion Board posts, Harkness discussions, and rallying Senior Speech cries for gender equality met with standing ovations, it’s clear St. Paul Academy and Summit School students want gender equity. However, the demographics of this year’s student leadership imply that voters overwhelmingly chose males as their leaders in the previous election. In the realm of elected student leadership, the facts remain harsh: although girls account for over half the student body, only 37% of the Upper School Council’s members are female. Also, three out of four officer positions are held by males, placing one female in the stereotypical position of a secretary.

When the main organ for student-driven change at a school that considers itself progressive on many fronts does not represent one of the most fundamental yet complex demographics – gender – it’s clear that the system is flawed. Male and female students at SPA must pursue the balanced, productive gender equity they espouse, starting with annual committee elections this year.

Equal representation of the genders in SPA’s student committees will change said committees’ dynamics, interests, and competencies, thereby benefiting the entire community.

Gender clearly shapes who we interact and connect with at SPA, a fact which makes gender-balance in our elected student committees all the more important. With an exception for a few sports, most athletes play with and against their own gender. Just walk into any SPA classroom and one is likely find students separated along the conventional male-female gender line. Historically, students have overlooked the potential for elected committees to serve not only as liaisons between themselves and the administration, but between males and females too. Embracing this opportunity for partnership now can only strengthen male-female dynamics, enrich committee decision making, and increase the chances that issues specific to both men and women see the light of day.

In order to achieve this gender diversity in elected student committees, students must start by considering the strengths of candidates’ records and visions before their style, sense of humor, and anything else that doesn’t directly impact their ability to do a job well. All too often, students have pushed aside legitimate ideologies and opinions, voting instead on the basis of their personal relationship politics or whims. This unsustainable system has done more harm to the community than good.  Moving forward, we must be more thoughtful as we fill out our ballots, regardless of whether the intention is to vote for a guy or girl. There is nothing thoughtful about the fact that now and historically, males overwhelmingly represent the interests of a community that is predominantly made up of females who are equally competent.

The psychological impact that such one-sided leadership has had on our community is difficult to discern because it is subjective and impossible to quantify. A mostly male leadership is virtually all students have ever known with the exception of a few female presidents and male-female duos scattered throughout the years. There is no comparative standard of equality and certainly no comfortable venue to express how one feels about this reality which students have voluntarily perpetuated, year after year. We have bridged the gap between willful ignorance and awareness of gender inequity through their words. Likewise, every thoughtful individual vote has the power to bridge the gender gap in our leadership.

To the detriment of all, SPA students have failed to use their votes to encourage girls in elected-leadership councils the way they have done so for guys. But there is always opportunity for change. As a student body, we must first embrace the fact that failure can be an invigorating impetus for deep change – the kind of change which fosters more harmonious, balanced relationships and realities for all parties involved. We have the power to redefine the status quo. We have the annual chance to support our equity-affirming speeches with equity-affirming action in student council elections. We owe it to ourselves and to the future classes of SPA to establish a precedent of union and balance that reflects our unmistakably strong social conscience.

UPDATE 5/1/15: After posting an online editorial urging voters to consider gender during officer elections this month, The Rubicon staff was thrilled to see a definite shift in the role gender played in recent elections. With class representative elections coming on May 4, the student body will have another opportunity to consider what balanced representation might look like.

Male and female students at St. Paul Academy must continue to pursue the balanced, productive gender equity they espouse, starting with upcoming class representative elections. Equal or near equal representation of the genders in SPA’s student committees will change said committees’ dynamics, interests, and competencies, thereby benefiting the entire community like never before . . . We have the power to define the status quo and slowly, we are changing it.

Students have begun to establish a precedent of union and balance that reflects SPA’s unmistakably strong social conscience. At this moment in time, all signs point to the fact that we are on the right track. Let’s keep it up.