Alexa Foust, a junior, is heavily involved in lacrosse and sports. She sat down with us on Wednesday for a discussion about her platform and ideas for Harriton. She will be running against Coby Levit for the post of vice president on Monday.

HB: In your video, you spoke about moving the start times for midterms and finals. How is this feasible, especially when bus schedules for middle and elementary schools are set in stone?

AF: I am actually in the process of it. It will hopefully happen even if I don’t win the election. I was talking to my mom about it and how midterms and finals are really big tests. It seems really dumb that you have to get up so early for them, and she’s part of the HSA [Home School Association] committee, and they talked about it and are in the process of getting approved.

The buses wouldn’t necessarily be a problem because we could push them to a certain time, either right before they need to be with middle schoolers or right after.

HB: What suggested time would this be? How about makeup exams?

AF: Around nine, so it would end around twelve or 12:30. People can still do make-up exams after school like normal.

*When the Banner spoke with Mr. Eveslage previously, he said that the largest obstacle to such a plan would be the requirement that the District serve lunch, should the buses be delayed to a late opening time.

HB: What does an all-club website mean?

AF: I know we have RAM day and that’s for all clubs, but I was thinking that in certain parts of the year some people have more time in their schedules, and might want to sign up for more clubs. If there were a website where people could find all those clubs, the description of all those clubs, the teacher or student in charge of the clubs, and their contact information, people could sign up at any point in the year.

HB: You spoke about couches in your video. What’s the benefit of having couches?

AF: It’s one of the ideas I haven’t entirely figured out. My mom was the one who got the couches in the school in the first place, but because of people being disrespectful, they were taken away. So, it’s just a matter of whether everyone wants them back. If so, there would have to be different guidelines.

HB: The couches were removed because they kept getting destroyed every year.

AF: Not even necessarily couches, but something else there, so the JSL is more welcoming. Right now, it’s just kind of boring.

HB: But the administration thought that it wasn’t worth it to keep buying new ones. If you can bring them back, how would you keep them there?

AF: More guidelines … maybe it wouldn’t have to be couches. I just think that when you walk in, there’s just two tables that are kind of thrown there. It doesn’t look as school-spirit and home-y as it should. There should be more decorations and nicer tables, so that people use the area more.

HB: How do you plan on creating a policy where students can get credit for missing gym for sports dismissals?

AF: It seems kind of counterproductive to have to make up physical education when you’re going to play a sport. First, you would have to go to Mr. Eveslage and have him approve it, then go to the gym teachers and prove that you were at the sport, maybe you would have to have a certain amount of playing time or a certain amount of time actually being involved in the sport to not have to make up gym.

HB: In your video, you said that you shadowed the current vice president, Jeffrey Solomon. What did you learn from him?

AF: I learned that you have to be so organized. I shadowed him for the tryouts for Mr. Harriton and I’m friends with him. It’s interesting that you have to be really professional, because obviously, it’s your friends who are trying out. You have to be respected so people don’t take advantage of your position.

HB: Why are you qualified for vice president?

AF: I’ve wanted to do it for a really long time. I saw my older brother in Mr. Harriton in 7th grade and I really like how it brings very different people into one thing. I was a part of it this year, and everyone is like one group and it’s fun.

Also, Harriton is a community, but it isn’t as tight as I think I would like it to be. And I know I would have one year to help fix that, but it shouldn’t be like the sports do this, or certain groups only do certain things. I’ve always wanted to do more activities and more events that are for the entire school.

HB: What does Vice President do?

AF: Vice President is in charge of the Events Committee, but I don’t think it should be that the Vice President does events, the President does communications, etc. It should be a whole effort from everyone. But right now, the Vice President is in charge of events, organizing Quidditch, organizing Mr. Harriton, and getting people involved.