The Student Advisory Group is a new student-run organization on campus. The members say its purpose is to help students understand one another and their unique cultural backgrounds. The group was assembled because of events involving a racially insensitive photo.
Principal Gary Shafferman has already seen a change within the group of students that were at the first meeting.
“It just felt like we needed to hear the students’ voice,” Shafferman said.
Most students that participated in the first meeting on Feb. 21 were chosen through teacher recommendations, but some were volunteers. The meeting lasted the majority of the school day.
Student leaders were chosen on March 9. Shafferman believes the group being student-led is a vital part of its future.
One of these student leaders, junior Geneva Le, believes that the group will create a lasting unity on campus between not only students, but also the surrounding community.
“We had so many mature conversations about these really difficult things,” Le said. “That kind of experience really binds people together.”
During the first meeting, Le distinctly remembers that the group discussed cultural racism and why she it isn’t okay to say the n-word. It meant a great deal to her that the school was advocating for students to recognize an important part of their identities.
“I hope that students don’t get so afraid or panicked or nervous about conversations like race, sexuality, sexism or class differentiations— the hard stuff to talk about that’s going on in our everyday lives outside of school. I want those things to stop being scary topics,” Le said.
Senior Nathan Smith is also a leader of the student advisory group. As a leader he believes his responsibilities are to help keep the group organized and give direction. Smith said his goal for the group is to peel back ignorance by providing a safe and open space to talk about these tough issues in a productive manner.
“This is through our eyes,” Smith said. “Being students, we understand better what other students are going to be going through rather than the administration.”
Even though he has limited time left at school because he’s a senior, Smith hopes to leave behind a legacy of strength through the student advisory group.
“I hope it puts value back into the faces and stories of people’s lives,” Smith said.
Freshman Tamyra Kelly believes she was chosen by her peers as a student leader because she showed passion for the topics being discussed.
The group has helped her to see that people are dedicated to making a difference on how our campus’ community acts towards people of different cultural backgrounds.
“It’s beneficial because you get different perspectives, and it’s easier to make change when you understand different ideas,” Kelly said.
During the next three years Kelly will be on campus, she says she is excited to be a part of the cultural shift taking place.
“I want everyone to be comfortable coming to this school, and not have to worry about people being ignorant,” Kelly said.
