“We do our research, but really the student body knows what needs to change or stay the same in the school,” one of the new co-president of Upper School Council Nick Cohen said. St. Paul Academy and Summit School has a smaller number of students, which is an advantage in giving more attention to students. That’s what makes the school special. This allows more student opinion to be infiltrated into decisions, in the Upper School Council, Student Activities Committee, and the Discipline Committee. The elected leaders all gave excellent speeches, and, though some were the only ones running for their positions, it was a tough choice for those who did have competition.

The new leaders have unique visions, parallel with each of their new positions and group. “I really want to see USC transform into a connection between the students and the faculty that truly gets things done in order to make student life at SPA better,” Cohen continued.

“Our main goal is that we accurately represent the student body. Students should know what we are discussing in USC and members of USC should know the issues and conversations happening around the school,” added the other co-president Hannah Johnson.

“I want to make sure that the school community knows what the Upper School Council is working on,” Upper School Council secretary Cait Gibbons said.
Similarly, Cohen summed up their goal as “making changes that people will feel.”

“One big piece is the Student Mentoring and Tutoring program, which has gotten very positive response and feedback already. Hopefully that will work to create a much better community-like atmosphere between the grades,” Cohen said. “Students should know what we are discussing in USC and members of USC should know the issues and conversations happening around the school,” Johnson said.

Each student leader has a plan of action for their goals, which correspond with the goal of the position they have been elected for. Many of these goals center around wider student discussion and community interaction. “My visions as the DC chair are to make discussions open, to make everything a fair as continue bringing student voice to the committee,” junior Charlie Rosenblum, who was elected as Discipline Committe Chair said.

The current effort to get student voice out there is mixed. It pays off well, according to Gibbons and Rosenblum. “USC does help to put a student voice out there,” Gibbons said.

“Unlike many other schools, SPA has a Discipline Committee almost entirely made up of students, so it gives not only lots of student voice but students perspectives as well,” Rosenblum added.

Cohen has another take. “Currently, I don’t think USC interacts enough with the student body to see what issues truly affect them,” he said.

Leaders took office in May.