In the wake of Choate campus closing this term, Student Council has proposed several measures to improve the virtual learning experience and off-campus student life. With new events and changes planned, the council has made efforts to not only unite the Choate community but also better the well-being of students adjusting to the circumstances.
The council’s first official meeting took place on April 14. The group’s work this term has been split between initiatives for the virtual spring term and proposals for the upcoming school year. Instead of weekly meetings in the Paul Mellon Humanities Center, the council has decided to meet biweekly via Zoom.
“The biggest change we have made in the procedure is what we are doing with our initiatives. Normally, big changes go through the proposal process. For anything that regards this term, it has now shifted to initiatives with groups of students working directly with faculty,” said Student Council President Ula Lucas ’21, who took office only this spring.
Instead of going through the conventional proposal process, Student Council members who are working on their independent initiatives this term are now expected to check in every week with other members and give updates on their progress.
With Student Council’s help, one major change has already been implemented this term: the pass/D/fail grading system. Student Council discussed with Dean of Students Mr. Mike Velez ’00, Director of Studies Mr. Kevin Rogers, and members of the College Counseling Office prior to the decision.
Lucas has proposed a relief fund initiative to support Choate families who don’t have the financial assistance to pay for tuition. Especially during a period when many families are seeing reduced funds and even unemployment due to the pandemic, Student Council wanted to help provide a platform where the Choate community can support one another. Lucas is currently working with Director of Student Activities Ms. Alex Long to create a webpage for accepting donations and reaching out to the greater Choate community about the project.
Additionally, rising Fourth Form Representative Joy An ’23 is working with Choate Create, a project created by the Arts Department, to undertake an initiative for an ongoing weekly art challenge. Every week, a prompt will be posted on Choate Student Council’s Instagram, and students can send in any of their artwork that is related to the weekly theme. In this way, student artists can have a platform to share their art with the community during a time of anxiety. Students have already submitted their entries for the first prompt, “Memory.” The second prompt is “Hero.”
For the upcoming year, Student Council members have already begun introducing proposals which include eliminating assigned seating in school meetings, allocating day student parking spaces closer to St. John Hall, and giving students the freedom to complete early check-in on Saturdays in any dorm.
“When it comes to the council, I think we are really getting to understand the true importance of collaboration and self-motivation,” Lucas said. “We’re not meeting weekly anymore or seeing each other around campus, so connecting with our individual passions for this community and being self-starters are more important than ever before.”
