Student Government’s Role Perplexes Many

By Dawn H. and Angelina G.

The Mountain Range Student Government program role is familiar to the students within, but to students outside of the program, their role is more shrouded and unseen. 

Student Government has their hands in most of the metaphorical pie that is the events at Mountain Range High School from school dances to the spirit days. Even though they are heavily integrated into student culture, environment, and events, they work silently, demonstrated by many students’ lack of knowledge of their role.   

Members of Student Government claim that the program simply manages events and represents students. Student Government advisor Ian Simpson asserts that they are responsible for the organization of several events, such as Pie in the Eye and spirit weeks. “We're just kind of like the voice for the student body,” adds Idzel V, Student Body President and Senior. 

She also describes her prestigious role as student body president, claiming that she had to demonstrate her ability to be a good role model. She lists out traits that she believes to define a good role model, such as people skills and sociability, not being focused on control, and being able to accept help from others. Mr. Simpson agreed, pointing out that he believes it is more about responsibility than power or control. 

When asked what she believed the program’s environment was like, President V  asserted,  “Our environment for this year specifically it's really productive, it's really cheerful,we're very respectful. It definitely gets a little overwhelming sometimes, you feel the days where everyone's like, "I don't want to do anything right now.” Mr. Simpson also describes the program as fun and a heavy consumption of both time and effort. 

The program has presented itself as a fun yet time-consuming organization that emphasizes responsibility for its members. Overall, the program has shown how much they affect Mountain Range, whether it be the dances, Pie in the Eye, or just deciding a day for spirit week, they have shown they certainly contribute to the school’s culture and environment.