Richard Sayer, a sophomore, is running for Harriton Sergeant-at-arms. We were drawn to the role because it has been one of the most contested, dramatic, and closest races this year — starting with an incredible number of people running for positions.

Ricky, who is famous for his “Ricky Reports,” sat down with the Banner at length on Friday for a discussion about his campaign and his platform. Due to the interview’s length, we decided not to use a ‘question-answer format’ for the entirety of this article.

iHarriton

One of the first planks Ricky proposed was making an app for Harriton, ostensibly for the purpose of “raising school spirit,” as it would aim to attract more people to sports games and other events.

He envisions his app as more personalized and accessible than Facebook. Claiming that “nobody gets information [from] the announcements,” Ricky justified it because he believes that a smartphone app would be more informative, especially since “not everyone has a Facebook.”

When queried about who would be responsible for maintaining this app and charged with its development, he stated that “it would be done through programming, through development.”

He said that the app could come from “a variety of sources, it could either be a Harriton student, there are people in [Technology Student Association] who know how to make apps, if I can’t find something there, there are apps for making apps, and we could always pay for someone to make an app.”

Free WiFi

As heavily advertised in eight different posters, another major plank is an initiative for free wireless internet access for Harriton’s student body, which has been proposed in previous sessions of Council, but “not [yielding] the result I wanted.”

In expressing his view, he stated that because “we are in a changing society […] free WiFi is going to happen sooner or later,” which he wanted to expedite by making compromises with administration, saying that “in the past, council has not been open to compromises.”

Regarding the free WiFi internet access, he pointed out that he was open to the concept of restricting the use of video streaming sites if there was not enough speed and limiting the WiFi to be used only between classes to cut down on the use of phones in class.

When prompted for an evaluation of the feasibility of the plan, he admitted that “I have not had the chance to talk with administration.” When asked why, he did not comment.

When we asked Mr. Eveslage to separately comment on this issue, he stated that, “student officials do not have the authority to expedite a process [for more open wireless or bring-your-own-device policies], as the school board controls technology policies.” That is not to say, however, that there is no ability for student officers to lobby or give suggestions on Board policies.

School Spirit

Placing partial culpability for the lack of school spirit on the fact that “the team[s] aren’t good,” he promoted his plan for a Harriton app as a panacea to problems.

Another reason he suggested for the lack of spirit is that Harriton does not have enough clubs, saying that “studies show that at schools where all students are in clubs, there is higher school spirit.”

Since the Sergeant-at-arms deals with the Internal Planning committee, he proposed that more work be done to help clubs advertise more and that Council take a more active role in club promotions.

You promised on Facebook that you would advocate a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) plan. What makes you think that this will happen?

Stressing that fact that he qualified this example with “eventually”, he continued, saying that “I have heard things about how in the future [this could be a possibility].” Which is unsurprising, as Brian Weber, one of the Tech Center technicians, said that there have been talks for at least the past three years about a BYOD program on the School Board.

Why should students vote for you?

“Because I bring a different energy, I’ll bring something different to the table, [as] I think about things differently from how other people do.” When asked for elaboration on the manner in which these energies and perspectives were original or different, he declined to comment.

Why are you qualified for this position?

“I am qualified because I am energetic, I have ideas, I have been doing council now for two years, I have gone to lots of meetings, I’ve done Music Friday many times, I’ve saved Music Friday a few times, and I feel that this job will be a good fit for me.”

Do you have any experience planning events?

“I have experience with watching people plan events, I have planned lots of things for what I have had to do with the Harriton TV station, [and] I am going to do lots and lots of events. I do have experience planning some small … events, but no, not large ones. I believe that if you put the right team around you, then you can create an event that is really, really good.”

What does Sergeant-at-arms do?

“Sergeant-at-arms communicates with clubs, is in charge of things like Music Friday, and most importantly, Sergeant-at-arms is head of the Internal Planning committee.”

What would that entail?

“The Internal Planning committee plans things like the ice breaker and the Pep Rally. I would make sure that the Pep Rally is much more exciting, there is going to be more Pep Rallies, I would also do things like the Mr. Harriton ad booklet, not the money end of it, but to put the booklet together, things like that.”
What committee were you on this last year?

“The committee[s] I was on [were] Student Rights and Technology.”
Then, why are you running for the office which chairs the Internal Planning committee?

“Well, I see similarities. I believe I am a burst-out person, and it so happens that I am very interested in Students Rights, and I can’t run for President.”

This article represents a clarification to the article originally published on April 7.