The Dreaded Student Council

padfoot
Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:05:16 +0000

It’s like that everywhere? No…

My ASB (Associated Student Body, aka Student Government) is very intense, organized, and well-respected at my school. Our school has 50 or so clubs, managed by ASB, which also manages a budget of about $200,000, must rent out all school facilities for use, approve fundraisers, etc. Last year, a benefit concert was coordinated that gained $18,000 in support for the Invisible Children, and this year our Junior Varsity Cheer Captain (who is in ASB) single-handedly coordinated an assembly for the school featuring some of the victims of the war in Darfur.
One position in ASB - Human Relations - organizes a Multi-Cultural Faire which 2,500 students in our school attend every year, and also a conference promoting friendship and cooperation that is actually GENUINELY moving.
Members of ASB actually do have decision making power. For instance, our ASB account has $180,000 and the council recently voted to deny a $35,000 loan to next year’s class to rent a stadium for graduation. To be in ASB at my school you have to be dedicated to putting a lot of time into whatever position you have, to coordinate all the aspects of the events you are in charge of.

My responsibilites as Senior Class President (2008) include designing/ordering the senior shirt, making the homecoming float, arranging the 3 blood-drives facilitated by the Red Cross, planning Grad Night, Senior Breakfasts, an all-senior Assembly, Spirit Weeks, and ultimately, Graduation.
Junior Class Presidents have to organize the entire prom dance. This year our school profited $15,000 - it was a year long process to arrange.

Anyway, our ASB is a VERY legitimate group, and I can assure you that not all schools are disorganized.