Noah Karpel, who is running for secretary,  sat down with the Banner to talk about his vision for the school. He will be running against Nina Korman in the general election, which is to be held later this month, either on the 14th or the 20th of April. However, President Hewitt says that currently, the 20th is more likely than the 14th.

In your campaign video, you spoke of new vending machines. What would this entail?

“What we have in the cafeteria, basically, but definitely more accessible. The cafeteria, as you know, is locked and most of the day, you can’t even get to those vending machines. Having it on the second floor would be a lot easier to get to since it is in the middle of the school.” When queried about its location, Karpel referred to a possibility at the intersection between the chemistry, language, and tech-ed hallways.

“I feel like this is actually fairly realistic, because we have vending machines at this school and I feel that this is a very reasonable request to put one on the second floor … [This year], I proposed it to the current student council.”

Separately, the Banner spoke to Mr. Eveslage and President Ben Hewitt. The principal said that vending machines were certainly possible on the second floor, as long as they abided with federal health regulations; the president stated that the proposal was taken up and recommendations put to the superintendent and other people in power.

In your campaign video, you spoke of the school’s paper towels. How would you affect changes to the school’s toiletries contracts?

“In the winter, your nose becomes really stuffy, and using those cardboard things really hurts your nose. Of course, I could use that argument to convince the toiletries department to get better, softer paper towels.”

Karpel added that the responsibility for these kinds of contractual changes lies primarily with the president. He added that right now, “this is just an idea,” but as secretary, he would propose this to council next year.

He also spoke of a willingness to “go to every teacher” and ask them to bring in tissues for students, if that would be his only option to affect change. This bears large similarities to the National Honor Society’s tissue drive earlier this year.

Separately, Mr. Eveslage noted that the supply of toiletries was entirely dependent on a public bidding process run by the Superintendent to find a “lowest responsible bidder” for the entire district, and that it would be unlikely that any students would be able to change that.

Also in your video, you spoke of improved student rights. What is your vision on that topic?

“I was on the student rights committee this year … and as someone who sees students always get falsely accused or into punishments they can’t get out of, I feel student rights are [one of the most] important things … [and] the [student] handbook … is just a bunch of rules and guidelines that we have to follow. I feel that there should be actual student rights where students would actually be allowed to defend themselves.”

When asked to expand upon this, he said students around fights, or the victim in a fight will also get into trouble (in addition to the aggressor), due to the district’s no-tolerance policies against violence.

He also gave a personal example, in which he was afraid his rights would be violated; as when he was accused of not signing into the library, he “advocated for himself,” and was able to have the disciplinary actions rescinded, something he suspects most students would be unable to do themselves.

His proposed solution included changing the role of the students’ rights committee (one of the committees chaired by the president) to one where “a student could ask students’ rights for help [and] try to defend someone who has been falsely accused.” He also advocated for an appeals process for punishments, asking us, “wouldn’t you want someone who has your back helping you out?”

You said that you wanted it to be easier to make clubs. What barriers are currently in place and how would you remove them?

“The club process takes a very long time and I feel like it is a lot more simple than they cut it out to be. We understand, yes, there is a salary issue, but if a student wants to make a club and it involves a lot of out of school activities, and most things would just be short, I think there shouldn’t be a long process where that club wouldn’t even be made.

“Considering that clubs around the school are so big, you see people staying after school every day, whether it be Science Olympiad or TSA, etc. We also have more diverse clubs like the Asian Cultures Club and the Magic Club and … that just becomes an excuse for administrators not to create the club that you would like.”

Which teacher is your hero?

“Mr. Connelly. Without a doubt.” When asked if he would like to expand, he told us, “He’s the reason I can write, basically. I came into Ninth grade awful [at writing] and in Tenth grade I’m decent.”

What’s your favorite part about Harriton?

“I like that we communicate. We don’t get the type of environment or community that you’d get out of school. In school you have your friends and people that you wouldn’t necessarily be with out of school.”

What does secretary do?

“The secretary is in charge of communications, advertising, and the art committee (for Mr. Harriton).”

Why are your qualified as secretary?

“I would say that I’m a pretty good public speaker, I was in the [Speech and Debate Club], I was the vice president at Welsh Valley, and I would say that I am good at communicating with people. Maybe some would even say I am charismatic.”

He later added that in relation to his history in the students’ rights committee, “I feel that as someone who loves communicating with other people, as communications is a mix of the two, I would be very good for me, and I would always be able to peek my head into student’s rights.”

How would you lead the art committee?

“I would make sure that all the art would be in on time, take attendance, know who is there, and what they are doing, but I would let them do the majority of the work, knowing that they are the experts.”