Student Government Elections: Meet the Candidates

It’s that time of the year again! Elections for are being held by the ACMA Student Government to elect the new officers for the next administration. Presidential elections will be held on Wednesday, February 25th during Ohana. The student body president will be elected using the relative majority of votes from the whole student body. The vice president, secretary, and treasurer elections will be held on Wednesday, March 4th during Ohana. Those positions will be elected using the relative majority of votes from the Ohana representatives. In order to make a more informed decision in voting for student body president, and to help influence your Ohana representatives in electing the vice president, secretary, and treasurer of ACMA Student Government, ACMA Savant has asked each of the candidates to provide some information about themselves and a description of what they would do if elected.

President:

Name: Eliana O'Neill

Grade: 11

Pathway(s): Vocal Music and Photography.

Experience in Student Government: Ohana Representative (February 2015- Present)

Favorite Book: Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian

Favorite Movie: Tangled

Favorite Song: "Til the Day I Die" by Garbage

Favorite Political Leader: Hillary Clinton

As Student Body President, my main goal will be to make every student's experience at ACMA the best that it can be by letting them be heard. To do this, I will get as many people involved in ACMA Student Government as possible, not just the Ohana Representatives. I will maintain organization in order to represent the students of ACMA, and create a system where Ohana Representatives are in direct conversation their classmates about the proceedings of Student Government. In order to ensure that all students are aware of events and committees, I will communicate effectively via Student Government's Facebook page, Instagram, Tumblr, morning announcements, and any other medium necessary. To make money that we need to make your ideas a reality, I will continue to plan Dining for Dollars events and other fundraisers in order. Finally, I will continue to find venues in the community that artists can display their art. I hope you agree with my ideas, and I hope you support me for Student Body President.

Name: Emilia Smart-Denson

Grade: 11th

Pathway: Theatre

Experience: Ohana Representative (September 2009 - September 2014) & Vice President (February 2014 - present)

Favorite Book: Freakanomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt

Favorite Movie: Midnight in Paris

Favorite Song: That’s too hard I can’t pick one

Favorite Political Leader: Franklin D. Roosevelt

As the President of ACMA Student Government I would have two major goals. My first objective is to increase the level of involvement of all students, and my second is to increase the productivity of this organization. Projects to accomplish these goals will include:

Creating a Student Government Newsletter. This will be a monthly publication that will allow students to be more aware and involved in Student Government’s goings on.

Creating a process for submitting proposals & requesting funds. A procedure will be created to allow students and representatives to submit their ideas and requests for Student Government. This will allow Student Government to better help the students at this school.

Making Town Hall Meetings available to students. Using times like Capstone Lunch I will find opportunities for students, representatives, and officers to meet and talk.

Continuing to spread student art into the community. I will explore new options for gallery showings, as well as reusing previous locations. I will also look into sharing other types of art, especially at the Beaverton event “Flicks by the Fountain”, the Beaverton Farmer’s Market, and Saturday Market.

Continuing fundraising campaigns. We will utilize proven techniques, as well as finding new ways to raise money.

Collaborating with other organizations and clubs. Continue current involvement with Dance committee and QSA and reach out to Sprit Committee and other groups.

Continuing to increase social media presence. This will allow students to know what’s going on and be involved.

For more information about the candidates for Student Body President, Victoria Beccar-Varela interviewed both Eliana O’Neal and Emilia Smart-Denson for her podcast series. This interview can be found here.

Vice President:

Name: Shareef Achekzai

Grade: 10th

Pathway(s): Filmmaking and Theatre.

Prior Experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (September 2010 to Present)

Favorite Book: 13 reasons why

Favorite Movie: Back to the future

Favorite Song: “Thinkin’ Bout You” Frank Ocean

Favorite political leader: Mahatma Ghandi

I have a dream for our school that has grown stronger over the past four years being an Ohana Representative in Student Government. This dream is one that makes sure everyone knows what is going on in ACMA Student Government, my dream makes sure we will reach out to the students and help out with any problems we can fix, we will make sure everyone is being represented fairly, and most importantly my dream is to make the most adequate Student Government that ACMA has seen. To make this dream come true I will use my knowledge from my previous years in Student Government that has given me the ability to see what will benefit our school and what will not. Some of the things I would like to continue because I have seen it benefit us would be the following:

I will encourage the President to keep Town Hall style meetings.

I will send members of Student Government out to Ohanas to make sure everyone has two Ohana Representatives.

I will always keep the Student Government website up to date, and make sure everyone knows we have one to update them on what is going on in the community.

With the knowledge I have gained from past Presidents these are a few ways I would like to make this organization more efficient:

I will help the President in creating a more efficient organization.

I will do whatever I can to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

I will advertise Student Government in as many ways possible.

I will work hard to display more artwork in the community for all pathways.

These are a few ways I would like to make my dream become a reality, I hope you will support my campaign and help me, help you.

Name: Truman Fritz

Grade: 10

Pathway(s): Filmmaking and Theatre.

Prior Experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (September 2014 - Present)

Favorite Book: Ready Player One

Favorite Movie: V for Vendetta

Favorite Song: Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: "Cuckoo!"

Favorite Political Leader: Frank Underwood (House of Cards), or Jake Schlack

If elected Vice President, I hope to accomplish the following: a larger and stronger digital presence on social media in order to spread the ideas and goals of Student Government, the creation of a Student Government website and the regular posting of ohana meeting notes on such a website, the advancement of an open-government policy requiring meetings to be recorded via textual evidence and posted on the new Student Government website, the improvement of intergovernmental discussion, cooperation, and coordination by means of the creation of a Student Government Facebook group, the development and advancement of Student Government's cooperation with third-party organizations and events, such as QSA, Spirit Committee, etc., and a larger and stronger connection with the Student Body through the reestablishment of Town Hall meetings.

This plan will be executed and followed through with the following procedures: an increase in social media posts regarding Student Government affairs, the announcement of events and affairs run by Student Government, the creation of the Student Government website in which the domain name and posted content will be discussed by Student Government Officers and members prior to creation, the creation of a Student Government Facebook group which shall be maintained and managed by the current administrative officers of Student Government and where all members and representatives of Student Government and the school’s respective Ohanas shall be invited to join and participate, establishing constant contact and regular meetings with leaders of third-party organizations separate from Student Government in which the discussion and legislation introduced and possibly passed will be public record, and the regular creation of events in which the Student Body can and will be encouraged to participate in and coordinated through the new Student Government Facebook group.

Name: Ally Merkel

Grade: 11

Pathway(s): Theatre, Dance

Prior Experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (2012-present)

Favorite Book: American History: A Survey by Alan Brinkley (also known as "APUSH textbook")

Favorite Movie: Singin' in the Rain

Favorite Song: Three Ring Government from School House Rock

Favorite Political Leader: Angela Merkel

I, Allison Merkel, joined Student Government my first year at ACMA (9th grade) as an Ohana Representative. After loyally observing three years of very different administrations, I possess the tools necessary to be an effective Vice President.

If elected, I would focus on the following areas:

1. Social Media/Publicity, by continuing to grow presence on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram, spending 5 dollars to promote Facebook posts, starting with a post relating to a fundraiser, potentially the May carwash. If successful, discus putting more money into Facebook promotion, and posting fundraisers and art showing on local media calendars, such as KGW, Portland Parent, The Oregonian, and Artslandia.

2. School Outreach, by collaborating with more ACMA student groups, such as Spirit Committee and Dance Committee, and creating volunteer opportunities open to the whole school. National Honors Society provides volunteer opportunities to its members, but I feel we need to create volunteer opportunities open to the entire Student Body. For example, I want to organize a group of students to register voters in preparation of the 2016 presidential elections (potentially registering eligible ACMA students during lunch).

3. Community Outreach and Fundraisers, by continuing to get student artwork work into the community, coordinating more frequent gallery showings, finding a food place near any art gallery showings that are willing to donate a percentage of proceeds to Student Government during the night of the gallery opening (A night on the town!), and continuing Dining For Dollars and Car Wash fundraisers, like the ACMA Car Wash I recently organized that’s set for May.)

Secretary:

Name: Evelyn Elston

Grade: 9

Pathway(s): Writing and Theater.

Prior Experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (2013-Present), Constitutional Council (2014-Present), Social Media Chairperson (2015-Present)

Favorite Book: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Favorite Movie: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Favorite Song: "A Lack of Color” by Death Cab for Cutie

Favorite Political Leader: Theodore Roosevelt

ACMA Student Government has grown by leaps and bounds in the last year, and I would like to help the trend continue as the Secretary for the Student Body. In my experience as Social Media Chairperson and as an Ohana Representative, I've noticed some of the imbalances that require fixing. One in particular is the lack of Middle School Ohana Representative attendance. While the High School Ohana Representative attendance has improved over Jake Schlack's administration, the attendance of Middle School Ohana Representatives to meetings and Student Government events has remained low. I would like to fix this by surveying the Middle School Ohanas to see what social media and forms of communication they use so we can reach them better. In addition to this I would also like to start sending text message reminders to all ACMA Student Government members so they have another way of knowing when the meetings are. Finally, I would like to further advertise the current social media accounts so that they are easily accessible to the Student Body. Overall, my goals as Secretary are to increase communication between not only Student Government and its Ohana Representatives, but with the entire Student Body.

Name: Lauren LeBrun

Grade: 10th

Pathway(s): Dance

Prior experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (September 2012 – Present)

Favorite book: Talon of the Silver Hawk

Favorite movie: The Way Way Back

Favorite song: My Doorbell - The White Stripes

Favorite Political Leader: Leslie Knope

As Secretary, my main goal will be to make the Student Body more aware of what is going on in ACMA Student Government. I will talk to the students and find new ways to make the happenings of ACMA Student Government more accessible and interesting to the Student Body. I will also take excellent notes.

Name: Oliver Streck

Grade: 10

Pathway(s): Theater.

Prior Experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (September 2010 – Present), Middle School President (February 2012 to February 2013)

Favorite Book: The Great Gatsby

Favorite Movie: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Favorite Song: Never Let It Die by Watsky

Favorite Political Leader: Tom McCall, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Angela Merkel

As Secretary of ACMA Student Government, I will strive to do my best to support ACMA Student Government in any way possible.

I want to make Student Government more efficient and organized by devising better ways to communicate, plan events, and get the word out to the Student Government members.

I would also like to establish a more efficient way of communicating with the Student Body so they know what we are doing.

I also want to work closer with the student body and create a way that the Student Body and easily tell us what they want to see happen.

I would like to help plan and execute larger projects because it will not only give Student Government publicity but it will also bring us together and give us a stronger sense of community.

Lastly I would like to help facilitate an easy way that Student Government can help other clubs and organizations around ACMA.

Treasurer:

Name: Annalise Abeyta

Grade: 9th

Pathway(s): Drawing and Painting, Photography, Ceramics and Sculpture.

Prior Experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (September 2012-Present)

Favorite Book: It’s hard for me to choose a favorite book, there are so many good ones!

Favorite Movie: “The Lego Movie”

Favorite Political Leader: Ronald Reagan

Over the past few years, I have been developing my vision for Student Government, and here are the goals I would like to reach as your Treasurer for the 2015/2016 term:

I will continue Jake Schlack’s “Dining for Dollars” legacy, by organizing these events to a pleasant frequency.

I will encourage, and support small businesses in our area through the “Dining for Dollars” Fundraisers.

I will actively support and collaborate with the fellow organizations of ACMA. I want to assist with the advertisement and promotion of the groups by designating a bulletin board to them.

I will appropriately, and effectively manage and use our funds to benefit the ACMA Student body.

I will be a positive role model for our younger peers at ACMA, encouraging a younger voice to rise up in Student Government.

This is my campaign platform for Treasurer of the 2015-16 term. I hope that you share and support my goals for this term.

Name: Lindsey Hinck

Grade: 11

Pathway(s): Film

Prior experience in ACMA Student Government: Ohana Representative (September 2014 – Present)

Favorite book: Gone Girl

Favorite movie: I get very anxious and incredibly stressed whenever I am asked this question. It's like choosing which side of your lung you prefer. You can't choose one because you probably need both parts to survive. So in that case I'll have to leave this question unanswered.

Favorite song: Half Full Glass of Wine by Tame Impala.

Favorite political leader: Mr. Michels

I haven't been in Student Government for very long. I was only elected as an Ohana Representative for the first time in September, and ever since then, I have developed more of a desire to contribute to the improvement of our school. I believe that through organizing fundraisers we can strengthen the Student Government, which will provide us with the funding to do bigger and better things with the organization. If I were to be elected, I promise to continue having fundraisers that have been successful in the past, but also branch out and find new, fun and creative ways to fund our Student Government. This organization has so much potential if it weren't for the low budget that we are struggling with. I believe that fundraisers don't always have to be in correlation with food. Century Theater fundraisers and more merchandise in the student store could be coming next year if I am elected. #votelindseyforstudentbodytreasurer2k15 #dontactuallyusethathashtagbecausehashtagsareso2013 #oruseitifyouwantidontmind #yougettheideajustvoteforme

Name: Natalie Stein

Grade: 11

Pathway(s): Photography, Drawing and Painting, Theatre.

Prior experience: Ohana Representative (September 2014 – Present)

I intend to do my utmost to responsibly manage the student government funds. I also hope to contribute to these funds by organizing fundraisers such as a book and CD rummage sale where people can donate used books and CDs or vinyls. I also hope to organize a zine (a small self published magazine) to bring into focus art forms that cannot be performed on a stage and would otherwise have limited showings. This zine could be released along with pins and stickers and sold to ACMA students. ACMA is an amazing school that offers so many exciting opportunities to its students, I feel extremely lucky to be able to participate in its further improvements in any way possible.

If you have any questions about the candidates or the upcoming elections, please contact acmastudentgoverment@gmail.com.

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