Hunter Sporn is the current co-chair of the Finance Committee and is running to be your next Student Council President. This year, Hunter is the president of the Stock Market Club, news editor for the Banner, and vice president of Future Business Leaders of America. With a three-year record of Student Council experience, he raised over $1,400 in fundraising for Mr. Harriton, shadowed current president Willie Marks, and worked as co-chair of the Finance Committee to help current treasurer Jake Diamond-Reivich raise $19,000 for Mr. Harriton. The Banner was able to speak with presidential candidate Hunter Sporn about his vision for Harriton in the future, how he plans on implementing his plans, and his involvement in Student Council.

While reading Hunter Sporn’s responses, keep in mind the duties of the Student Council President:

• Be the spokesperson for Harriton’s student body, inside and outside of school.
• Attend School Board and Student Council meetings.
• Oversee all committee actions and actions of other officers and members.
• Conduct Student Council elections.
• Chair the Student Rights Committee, which acts upon concerns of the student body by proposing policies to the school board and administration.

Harriton Banner: What initially inspired you to run for president?

I was inspired to run for president because of the immense potential that I see in each and every Harriton student. It would be my honor and privilege to be given the mandate to fully realize this potential.  

HB: What is your greatest strength as a candidate? What do you have to offer to the student body?

Hunter Sporn: Excellent question. My greatest strength would be my ability to unify people. Harriton students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but we concurrently share so much in common. As a relative newcomer to the area myself, I understand the struggles and aspirations of each and every Harriton student: freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. I have unified students in my other leadership roles in this great school, and it would be my utmost privilege to unify all the people. Above all, I would call my biggest accomplishment spending the last three years fighting – and fighting successfully – for each and every Harriton student in the Council, and if I am so fortunate enough to be elected to the position of president, it would be my honor to make this school even better.

HB: What is your primary goal if elected president?

HS: This is an easy one. I have spent the last few weeks shaking hands and listening to so many of you, and the one common theme I have been hearing is a sense of detachment from the Student Council. I’ve spent the last few years fighting for students’ rights, and each and every Harriton student can bet that if I were to be elected, they would have a very real say in the affairs of the school. I plan to make this happen by launching an online form for suggestions and even holding plebiscites for very important issues (e.g. later school start time). Students can also count on me to represent them in meetings with the administration. If my peers want something to happen, then I won’t take no for an answer from anybody.

HB: What are your other goals for the upcoming school year and how do you plan on implementing them?

HS: Without a doubt, we are a very spirited school, but I still see room for improvement. We have some fantastic student athletes and academic competitors, and I would make it a mission of my presidency to improve the sense of community and school spirit that makes Harriton the place that it is today.

HB: What is your favorite thing about Harriton’s student body?

HS: The sense of community. No question. Allow me to share anecdotal evidence. My first day here, I vividly recall walking into the cafeteria and sitting alone at a table. I didn’t know one single student. Within minutes, several of my peers had come over to introduce themselves and many of the kids that I met that day would go on to become some of my closest friends. The sense of community here is simply incredible, and I am immensely proud of the people that we are.

HB: What would you do as president in the following situation: inappropriate music comes on the speakers at the end of Mr. Harriton by mistake. How would you deal with this?

HS: That’s a great question, and it justifies a great answer. I’ll give you the best answer I can conjure. Surely, my first course of action would be to remedy the situation by instructing the sound crew to turn the sound system off immediately. In terms of later explaining this occurrence to the principal, I would apologize profusely and take full responsibility as the leader of the Council, but I would then proceed to take measures to ensure that the occurrence does not repeat itself in the future.

HB: What are some challenges that you think you would face as president? How would you deal with those issues?

HS: Part of holding elected office, be it national office or local office, is being prepared for any unexpected issues and challenges. I have had the experience of facing serious challenges in other leadership roles and feel confident that we will be fully prepared to face any challenges that we encounter as a school. The one foreseeable challenge is keeping the student body engaged in the affairs of the Council and ensuring that their voices are heard by the administration. From day one in office, students can bet on me to make sure their voices are indeed heard. Not just heard, but heard loudly and clearly.