We received a number of letters from students regarding our April 21 story “Three years without ASB elections.” The following letters represent a sampling of those received. Letters may have been edited for length and clarification.
Dear Editor,
As the Co-President of Baron Bridge Builders, I agree with the selection process that ASB is using. In Baron Bridge Builders we do the exact same thing, we interview candidates and select them based on their experience. We used to use the democratic voting process that ASB used to do, but this process seems to work better. The main problem with elections is that the student body is (generally) uninformed. It will be a popularity contest like Mrs. Silvertooth said and the average voter has absolutely no idea who each candidate “is” and if he or she is qualified with the position. In the selection process, it is based off of the knowledge about the person and the members selecting the new Executive Board know more about the person that the voter does. They have worked with them, and understand the person’s strengths and weaknesses. They will know more about the person and if he or she is qualified. Although I understand that people want their voices to be “heard,” the election process is flawed. Thus, I support ASB and this process.
Dominic Cunneen (’15)
Dear Editor,
Dear Editor,
As a senior of Fountain Valley High, I agree with both processes, more so with the current election process. Although in the past students were able to vote for their ASB board, I believe it was merely a popularity vote. I can understand why teachers and board members did not like the previous process due to lack of knowledge of school politics. Even though I approve of the current interview process, I believe the candidates should express themselves in front of the entire school. In other words, they should demonstrate their leadership talents so all classmen receive a better understanding of who they are voting for. If our school individuals know nothing about their candidates, how can they know what is to come the following year? The election process should allow our possible incoming leaders the ability to show what they can bring for the future years.
Calvin Nguyen (’15)
Dear Editor,
In regards to the article on three years without voting, I believe the students should be able to vote for their ASB leaders. This freedom gives the student body a voice and allows everyone to choose who they want to be the leader of their school. Throughout the three years without elections I feel that without the proper elections, our leadership in the school has gone down. I have noticed my experience in high school has not been satisfactory. I believe it is only fair to the students to be able to elect the next year’s ASB members.
Kasey Leong (’15)
Dear Editor,
I believe it is not a big deal that we do not have elections. I side with Mrs. Silvertooth about how high school elections are nothing but popularity contest. As a student with experience, most of the time I had no idea who the candidates were. I ended up voting for whoever my pencil landed on.
The current process is much more effective and puts the best person in each open position. Having been through many interviews, I know how stressful the interview process can be. Undergoing that stress allows the panel to see how the candidate operates under pressure, if they think critically, if they can respond effectively and communicate their ideas concisely and in an easy to comprehend way, their leadership and their level of preparation going in to the interview. It is much more personal and a good way to determine the best fit.
I understand the right to vote is “important” and a constitution is “necessary” but I think everyone is blowing this out of proportion. Why does it matter? The kids running for positions are student leaders who want to make the school a better place. They’re all working towards the same goal. Instead of lashing out and wasting peoples’ time making a big deal out of this, I believe ASB should go about their business and be allowed to do their thing because I think it works really well.
Austin Mak (’15)
Dear Editor,
In response to the article you wrote about the ASB elections or lack thereof, I have a few things to point out. First of all, I believe this entire issue is blown out of proportion. The fact that there is such a severe backlash over the lack of elections is absolutely ridiculous to me. I agree with Mr. Orme that people would simply vote for their friends and it would turn into a popularity contest and then having to “campaign” for the “elections” would degenerate into a flurry of insults and attacks on social media because that is how our generation is. Calling it an “abuse of power” is completely unwarranted. What power is there to abuse in a student body at a high school? Where to have prom? I mean this isn’t America we are talking about or Russia, you know, REAL countries with REAL problems and REAL opportunities to abuse power. This is a simple high school in a simple town that nobody could care less about except those who run it. And an ASB constitution? Really? That is absolute overkill. We are a high school, what do we need a constitution for?
Ennis Khaleq (’15)
