Vote? But Who?

We’re back!!! Are you excited too? No? Me neither… It seems like yesterday we were still suntanning on the beach, hiking in the mountains, or just being lazy at home, and now we already have the first housekeeping of the year. And it is important. The election of the new school speakers is imminent. Given that this year we have a new headmaster at the helm with Mr. Sturm, one can view this vote as particularly important.

In a democratic election, voters should decide who to vote for based on the policies and programs of the candidates. This article attempts to ensure this by giving the candidates a further platform outside of the school assembly to present to us, the student body, with their new plans and ideas for the school. To create the profiles for the candidates, each of the eleven was asked the same set of the following 6 questions and asked to create a slogan for their campaign. 

1. How do you plan to work together with our new principal?

2. What is your favourite food from Thomas?

3. What is one thing you would do for the school if you had an unlimited budget, but only as a one-time purchase? And how would you accomplish that?

4. Do you have SV experience?

5. If you were a school subject, which one would you be?

6. What is—in your opinion—the most pressing issue for students at the school?

The answers to these questions were summarised in their profiles. We, the NMS Gazette, hope this offers you all the possibility to make an informed decision on who you want to represent you this year.

Amani - For School Unity

Amani is running as fresh blood. She was only ever an assistant class representative and has only been to a handful of SV’s. But that does not mean she is not hungry and willing to do the job. After thinking hard about the question, Amani decided that facilitating a further exchange for the upper secondary is what she would do with a blank check. She argued that working on a long-term project like this would be a better idea than having an improvement to the school, which could break or be broken not long after it is implemented. Although she picked politics as the subject that best describes her campaign, the reasons are very similar to Hugo's: You can learn from past mistakes to create better situations. When asked about working together with school management, Amani suggested a system in which she is able to collect ideas and improvements from the students to present them in regular meetings with said school management. The most pressing issue for her was the lack of interactive learning and the lack of motivation to come to school that stems from that. She wants to cultivate a climate where the students always feel that the lessons are for their well-being. From Thomas, she preferred the chicken Schnitzel. If elected, she vowed to try and have more of the student body use the cafeteria for lunch.

Hugo - Learning Together, Leading Together.

Cooperation. This is what the Q3 student is running on. Throughout all the questions asked, this was the main apparent theme. In regard to how to best cooperate with the new school leadership, emphasis was placed on “openness and collaboration”—to bridge the gap between the headmaster and the student body through active communication and exchange of ideas and experiences. Communication was also his focus when asked about the most pressing issue for students. He envisions a more transparent flow of information in that regard. When asked for which school subject he would be, Hugo answered history, because of the ability to draw lessons from the past. This is something the candidate, who has two years of prior SV experience, hopes to do as well. When asked about what he would like to buy for the school if the funds were irrelevant, Hugo was adamant that it didn't necessarily need this one-time offer. He was adamant that even with a limited budget, one can create a better learning environment for everyone. In fact, he believes that this way can be even more beneficial as it forces the school community to think outside the box and come up with new, innovative solutions. Not so innovative, however, was his pick for favourite Mensa food: Käsespätzle with onions.

Sergej - Change through Honesty

Transparency was important for Sergej. With Herr Sturm, he believes he can be a good and transparent mediator to help the students with suggestions and the principal with understanding the school community. Hypothetically, under Sergej, a blank check would be used to create a student aid fund. This fund would be split into two parts. One would ensure that every student, no matter their financial background, can take part on whatever trip they want. The second would be a financial backer for universities. After clarifying if the lunch break was a permissible answer, Sergej decided on physics as the subject to best describe his campaign. For him, physics embodies a world in transparent principles that can be uncovered with drive and determination—something he wishes to emulate if in office. For Sergej, the lack of preparation for important decisions in the academic journey is the most pressing issue. He does not feel like the school is providing enough guidance in order to make the best choice for each student. Creating a “Study Club” with Max, who is also on this list, is one of his ways to combat this. Sergej would also like to implement programs that would help Thomas out. We should stop demanding things from him and start listening to him, to find a way to help him. His favourite Mensa food is Germknödel.

Max - Come Talk to Me

Max wants clubs. Not to beat people over the head with, but for students to share interests and build new friendships and bonds. In this pursuit, he hopes to synergise well with the new head teacher. With good cooperation, the creation of new clubs, and the revitalisation of institutionalised clubs, he hopes to create meaningful change that can be felt long after his graduation in a year. Max would use a one-time, fantasy purchase to accelerate the rebuilding of the Güntzelhalle. In his speech during the assemblies, Max was very upfront about him being in Q3 (which means he has a lot on his plate) and his not having the most experience when it comes to the SV. However, he is interested in learning and improving in all facets of life. And that is why he does not see it as an obstacle, but more of a challenge, which he is more than willing to accept and to come out stronger on the other end. Max chose Sports as the subject to represent him. He chose this because of the “friendly competition” it offers, which he welcomes and is intrigued by, as one can see through him doing martial arts in his free time and by his willingness to implement a Clash Royale tournament in the school. Max believes that procrastination and comparisons are the most pressing issues for students. He describes himself as a “big idea person” and wants to workshop realistic ideas with others to create change. If he goes to Thomas, he tends to choose the pasta with red pesto.

Laylah - Yes, We Can! (From Bob, the Builder)

Laylah believes that the best way to work and cooperate with Principal Sturm would be to have many of the interactions come from his end in order not to burden him with even more work. She hopes to work closely with students to incorporate their ideas into her work. Laylah’s answer to the question on what she would do with a one-time, unlimited purchase was the most out-of-the-box. She came up with the idea to create a massive fund and place Thomas in charge of it, after which, you would also place Thomas in charge of taking care of bathroom cleanliness. This way, the bathrooms would hopefully be clean, and Thomas would be able to hold his own in tough times. In cooperation with Louisa, Laylah has a set plan of goals she would like to achieve. On her agenda lie the reintroduction of a bell at the end of classes, creating a room in which students can study and focus in silence, having morning announcements in which clubs and other events could be highlighted, and the introduction of themed days for the whole school. Laylah believes that a lack of transparency and students feeling out of the loop is the most pressing challenge they face. She does not have any prior SV experience, but she believes she can adapt quickly. Laylah chose study time as the subject she mostly felt explained her campaign, as it focuses on the individuality of the students. She chose Süßkartoffelcurry with rice as her favourite school cafeteria dish.

Can - Ambassador of the Students

Can brings continuity to the table. He aims for close, weekly dialogue with the new school management. This would be easiest for him because of his role in the school speaker team last year. He would like to use his experiences to ensure a seamless transition from one headmaster to another. With an unlimited budget, Can would hire a contractor to carry out a full renovation of both school buildings and update the technological capabilities of all rooms to an equal and competent level. Can leans heavily into the fact that he has the most experience of the group of candidates. Not only was he a school speaker last year, which he claims gave him insight into how processes work in the school, but he was also in the “Bezirksschülerausschluss” last year and has years of SV experience from his former school. As a subject, Can chose the surf trip (GK Surfen). He believes that, like himself, the course combines aspects in the realm of physics with sports and a lot of fun. To him, miscommunication is detrimental at the school. Next to the trusted teachers, Can had the idea of trusted students. People who can go up to teachers in the name of others in order to lessen consequences on students who fear them if they speak up. He ended by saying that he is open to all suggestions of the student body and wants to help implement good ideas like the microwave, which the last set of student representatives attempted to implement. His food choice was the most unexpected out of the bunch: Tunapizza.

Eliot - Through Everything Together

Eliot views the school community as one large web. To him, we can only achieve positive change if all members of the school community (Friends, parents, student body, faculty, management, etc.) pull together and are all on the same page. This is how he would also work with the new management team. Much cooperation and creation of common ground. He later stated that he believes one should not just tackle problems, but also tackle the root of the problems. After racking his brain, Eliot agreed with Max that finishing the renovation of the Güntzelhalle would be his priority if he had a blank check. For the subject to describe his campaign, Eliot, who had experience as a class representative in primary school and for half a year last year in secondary, chose English because of the importance it has in the identity of our school. As a pressing issue, Eliot chose twofold. He is concerned with the allocation of funds after the cuts made by the Senate. Furthermore, he believes that the pipeline from “Lernbüro” to partner tongue and then Abitur or IB is flawed at the school. He finds that too often students are thrown into the deep end after a short time in the “Lernbüro” and are not yet ready for regular German lessons. This continues when students enter IB because of a lack of German skills for Abitur, and they do not need the language anymore. If Eliot does order food in the mensa, his go-to is wedges and Schnitzel.

Joe - Vote for Us

When Joe was asked about how he would communicate and work with the new principal, he was very positive about the willingness of Mr. Sturm and other important teachers. He believed that everyone is here to create a good environment for all, so starting improvements to the school will not be very difficult. With a blank check, Joe would prioritise an expansion in order to create more rooms so the school feels less cramped. The subject that represents him is History. He likes it because history forces you to create an opinion based on concrete facts. He has been a class representative every year in the secondary and believes the most pressing issue for the middle school is the fear of losing Thomas in the Mensa. In the upper secondary, he believes transparency between management, teachers, and students is lacking, and because of that, communication is not as efficient as possible. For Joe, it is important for the students, even if they do not vote for him, to vote for a team that will be able to work well together and facilitate change. In the school speaker team, he wants a group that harmonises well together and complements their skill sets for the benefit of the school. This stands in contrast to the cafeteria, where he would want the XL “Nudeln mit Specksahnesoße”.

Julie - Einer für Alle, Alle für Einen (One for All, All for One)

When talking to Julie, the feeling arose that she had the most concrete plans of what she wanted to change. A big part of her program and a thing she emphasised in the interview was the fact that she wants to make the first aid room more accessible. Completely revamping the first aid room with new equipment was also her answer to the blank check question. She values peace and quiet, which it can provide for short times when minor ailments come up in order to recoup for the rest of the day. The lack of which is also, in her opinion, the most pressing issue that students face. Further ideas of hers included a middle school ball. She believed that many of the lower secondary students find it a shame that the only real dance comes in later years or on class trips. In order to combat the problem with unclean bathrooms, Julie said that although it will probably be very unpopular, a Mensa duty style bathroom duty might be a solution. She described Ethics to be the subject to best describe her campaign, as it focuses on people and humanity. Julie's favourite food from the cafeteria is the Kartoffelpuffer with Apfelmus.

Sebastian - Realism Over Promises

Sebastian was not happy with the work or the promises of the previous team of student representatives. He took issue specifically with the almost populist promises provided by candidates in previous years, such as bringing back a slushy machine. He wants to promise only achievable change, a mindset mirrored in his campaign slogan. A point of emphasis for Sebastian was to not just focus on a few big ideas, but rather many small changes in order to still accomplish change, even if certain plans fail. Sebastian plans to be a mediator between the student body and the principal. For him, that would entail frequent communication and back-and-forth transparency. As a subject, he chose Global Learning, a Year Eleven course which does not focus on grades, but instead attempts to build and refine students’ interests for the future. This mirrors what he would do with an unlimited amount of funding: renovate the school and bring the technology up to date for the years even after he leaves. Sebastian sees the isolation in studies and feels the lack of cooperation to be the most pressing issue for students. He feels that too often students are faced with daunting tasks and have to find solutions on their own, instead of having the school community to help. Sebastian has also not had much previous SV experience, but believes that this bridge can be crossed through hard work and consistent communication. His favourite food from Thomas is Linsenbolognese.

Louisa - Yes, We Can! (From Bob, the Builder)

In order to ensure a seamless cooperation with Herr Sturm, Louisa would take up the new principal on his offer to meet up on a weekly basis. When asked the ‘unlimited money’ question, she was a proponent of creating a fund for school trips so everyone can partake in them. The most pressing issue from Louisa’s point of view is the lack of transparency. She feels that students never know what is happening in the school and recalls a conversation where even the teachers admit to not having a complete grasp on things. In cooperation with Laylah, Louisa has a set plan of goals she would like to achieve. On her agenda lie the reintroduction of a bell at the end of classes, creating a room in which students can study and focus in silence, having morning announcements in which clubs and other events could be highlighted, and the introduction of themed days for the whole school. Louisa believes that although her last SV experience was in primary, the fact that she is a helper in the confirmation process can translate well to this role. She believes Politics would best describe her campaign, as you build political opinions through clubs and other experiences, and that all works towards a greater plan, which is also how Louisa would like to operate. After naming around seven different foods as her favourite, she finally decided on the tomato soup.

Unlike many American news outlets, we (the NMS Gazette) will refrain from giving a suggestion on who to vote for (but not because we’re scared of consequences, unlike some American billionaires). However, we want to give a final comment. In this election cycle, a theme that was evident is that many of the candidates do not have much, if any, experience in the SV. Fresh blood could be good. They may come in with an open mind, think outside of the box, and through that create changes that would not be possible for candidates who are bred by the systems in place. However, this inexperience might as well prove detrimental to the good intentions of the candidates. The fact that we have Mr. Sturm as principal now, I believe, also benefits the candidates. He seems like a principal who will actively try and improve things at the school. He wants to cooperate with the students to create a better environment for everyone at the school. This is a new start of an era for the Nelson Mandela School. A promising era. Who you vote for to represent the students at the beginning of this new era is up to each one of you individually. All we ask for here at the Gazette is that you put thought into your cross and choose the candidate you truly believe to be the right person to lead through changing times. The choice is, and always should be, yours…