EDITORIAL: Democracy Under Attack (Kind of)

By Grahm Reynolds

This piece is a part of a two-part editorial about the class officer elections for the class of 2022. To read the other viewpoint by Sushant Kunwar, click here.

Class elections give students a chance to elect fellow students to represent their classmates and promote the interests of the class. This provides valuable experience for both voters and candidates; the ability to participate in democracy, no matter the level, is second to none. However, these valuable benefits are thrown out the window when there is no class election. 

We live in a time when the pillars of our cherished democracy are frequently attacked. Democracy — in an arguably less streamlined form — has been a staple in our national government since its founding. This extends to all levels of society, from federal to statewide to local elections. It should even apply to elections within a high school.

This year, class elections for the Branford High School class of 2022 are not being held. Instead, the officers from the previous year will serve a second consecutive year. This year’s class officers are President Peyton Giordano, Vice President William Mollow, Treasurer Sushant Kunwar, Social Chair Ava Cosgrove, Secretary Aditya Rajpurohit, and Historian Veronica Smith.

The decision to withhold elections has been cited as COVID-related; last year’s officers didn’t get the full class officer experience because of virtual learning and other restrictions, so they are making up for it with this year. Covid had the same impacts on the other grades, yet they have held elections. The following is not a critique of the class officers or the job they have done, but rather of the complete unfairness of the situation.

We need elections, and we need them now. 

Being a class officer is a huge deal for any grade, but for seniors it holds more weight. With college and the real world coming up, students need as much experience as they can get. Withholding the opportunity for students to become class officers creates an unfair advantage for last year’s officers, and leaves students feeling neglected. Why shouldn’t others get the opportunity that they are denied? These students left to the side may also have excellent ideas to bring forward. Without the ability to run for class office, those ideas will never see the light of day.

We students pay class dues which help fund the prom, the class trip, and our cap and gowns at graduation. All of these events directly impact us students. So why should we not have a say in how our dues are spent? Senior year is when we get to reap the rewards of our dues, and this year we aren’t even allowed to have a voice to choose those rewards. The result of having no class officer elections may best be described as, dare I say, taxation without representation. 

It’s unfair to say that this year’s class officers are undeserving. They won fairly last year, but this is a new year. With a new year comes new people, ideas, and votes. The other grades realize this, and have held elections. Why is it any different for seniors? The senior class officers should do everything in their power to ensure that there are fair elections for this school year. We shouldn’t deny people the chance to lead or to voice their opinion. Already two months into the school year, it is far past time for elections.

To ensure fairness, class officers must hold elections now.

Editor's Note: Grahm is one of the editors of The Branford Buzz.