VOL. V, NO. 2

October 4, 1963

THE MAINE POINT

By Dick Pate

In a school such as Maine West, it is truly a pity that so few people carry with them a proper attitude toward their Student Council. In past years the student body has failed to recognize the organization to which it owes so much. Perhaps, however, a clearer understanding of why the Student Council functions as it does will help to correct the false impressions which exist.

Student Council: Why?

Although a good many people are aware of the fact that the Student Council aims to represent the individual, a great number of these do not understand why. Many ask, "Representation sounds nice, but what does it accomplish?" "In what way need the student body be represented?"

To begin with, if Maine West did not have a Student Council, the most enterprising students from each of the four classes, would take it upon themselves to discover the wants and opinions of every student and then express these wants and opinions to the administration. In other words, these students would eventually create what they lacked, a student government.

Events such as Homecoming and Variety Show, although class councils and students in general participate, need a basic coordinating force, one that would have the support of the administration and the consent of the student body.

The Student Council, achieves these ends by holding an election of representatives whose duties are:

1. To collect the opinions of the individuals they represent.

2. To express these opinions to the assembled Council where they could be approved and if necessary sent on to the administration

Barry Gives The Key

"So that the Council may function effectively in maintaining itself as the "pipeline" between the student body and the administration," expressed Barry Eisfeldt, president of West's Student Council, it must have the support of the students who elected its members." Those who take interest and participate in Council understand that Student Council is not a club title, but it is, in fact, a privilege of every student!