Deciding Club Leaders
June 11, 2019
Inspired by the recent Burroughs elections, I sought out to discover how other Burroughs clubs, scholastic teams, and sports teams decide on leadership. I asked a variety of students about their clubs’ leadership processes and their efficacy.
Extra Hands for ALS Club | Almira Arnold:
Applications were submitted to former leaders–– the graduating seniors. I can’t remember how broad a group of the student body was even aware of these applications. In the future, an assembly announcement about applications would be a good move. I just remember hearing about it from the faculty sponsor, a teacher I know well. There wasn’t any unrest on any level at all though.
Applications were submitted to former leaders–– the graduating seniors. I can’t remember how broad a group of the student body was even aware of these applications. In the future, an assembly announcement about applications would be a good move. I just remember hearing about it from the faculty sponsor, a teacher I know well. There wasn’t any unrest on any level at all though.
Asian Culture Club | Nathan Peng
Leaders are decided by the club’s sponsors (Mr. Chen and Ms. Lim) based on who is qualified and most committed to diversity and supporting Asian culture. Potential leaders submit a form that is provided by the Diversity ETC board that includes questions that attempt to paint a picture of how committed the student is to the cause. As there are multiple faculty members that have to come to a conclusion rather than one person making all the decisions, bias is minimized. Asian Culture Club has tended to have very smooth transitions due to the replaced leaders always being graduated seniors.
Leaders are decided by the club’s sponsors (Mr. Chen and Ms. Lim) based on who is qualified and most committed to diversity and supporting Asian culture. Potential leaders submit a form that is provided by the Diversity ETC board that includes questions that attempt to paint a picture of how committed the student is to the cause. As there are multiple faculty members that have to come to a conclusion rather than one person making all the decisions, bias is minimized. Asian Culture Club has tended to have very smooth transitions due to the replaced leaders always being graduated seniors.
Gender Equity Organization | Kate Smith
GEO is under the diversity ETC umbrella, so there is one application for all the clubs, and you indicate which you’d like to be a leader for. Ms. Fischer reviews all the applicants and consults the current club leaders to decide who should lead the next year.
GEO is under the diversity ETC umbrella, so there is one application for all the clubs, and you indicate which you’d like to be a leader for. Ms. Fischer reviews all the applicants and consults the current club leaders to decide who should lead the next year.
Trivia Club/Quiz Bowl | Nathan Peng
Leaders were decided by the club’s sponsors (Mr. Bang and Mr. Knight) and myself, a graduating senior who cannot be leader next year (due to, well, not being here). Potential leaders told me verbally or through chat about their interest. We looked for who is qualified and most skilled and best embodies leadership qualities.
Despite being a student now playing a role in leadership selection…this process still ensures that qualified people get picked and avoids bias due to many people pitching into who should best lead the club.
Leaders were decided by the club’s sponsors (Mr. Bang and Mr. Knight) and myself, a graduating senior who cannot be leader next year (due to, well, not being here). Potential leaders told me verbally or through chat about their interest. We looked for who is qualified and most skilled and best embodies leadership qualities.
Despite being a student now playing a role in leadership selection…this process still ensures that qualified people get picked and avoids bias due to many people pitching into who should best lead the club.
Science Olympiad | Adina Cazacu
The team voted for two captains of the entire program, one junior and one senior. There were considerably fewer junior candidates than seniors. The coaches were hoping to have a junior leader because of second semester senioritis. The seniors had more time to study compared to any junior amidst standardized testing, since the majority of competition prep happens second semester. I was really happy to get to help the team as a captain this year, but I wish I had been elected as a genuine candidate as opposed to winning by default.
The team voted for two captains of the entire program, one junior and one senior. There were considerably fewer junior candidates than seniors. The coaches were hoping to have a junior leader because of second semester senioritis. The seniors had more time to study compared to any junior amidst standardized testing, since the majority of competition prep happens second semester. I was really happy to get to help the team as a captain this year, but I wish I had been elected as a genuine candidate as opposed to winning by default.
Chess Team | Jason Zhou
For chess, leaders were decided by both seniority and merit. The leaders for chess don’t really do much and thus it isn’t really important who is the leader. The leadership process did not really cause unrest due to the aforementioned fact.
For chess, leaders were decided by both seniority and merit. The leaders for chess don’t really do much and thus it isn’t really important who is the leader. The leadership process did not really cause unrest due to the aforementioned fact.
Squash | Dylan Fox
For squash (technically an IA, under the guidance of supreme ruler and coach Mr. Peder Arneson), the captain was never officially determined. Rather, it was unanimously and implicitly agreed as the senior with the greatest skill or obvious leader tendencies, two traits often times exhibited in the same person.
For squash (technically an IA, under the guidance of supreme ruler and coach Mr. Peder Arneson), the captain was never officially determined. Rather, it was unanimously and implicitly agreed as the senior with the greatest skill or obvious leader tendencies, two traits often times exhibited in the same person.
Water Polo | Jan Kasal
Voting was held for one varsity and two junior varsity captains. Not everyone was eligible to run. Three people ended up running for captain from three different grade levels. This wasn’t a problem. What did cause unrest on the team was the fact that JV players voted for varsity captains. This was problematic in a few ways: first, there are more JV players than varsity players. In the majority-win, no runoff voting process that happened, the JV players held more control than the varsity players in the election for a varsity captain. Second, this didn’t run the other way. Varsity players were not able to vote for JV captains. The JV team effectively decided who was the varsity captain.
The seniors poke fun since the entire varsity team knows the situation.
Voting was held for one varsity and two junior varsity captains. Not everyone was eligible to run. Three people ended up running for captain from three different grade levels. This wasn’t a problem. What did cause unrest on the team was the fact that JV players voted for varsity captains. This was problematic in a few ways: first, there are more JV players than varsity players. In the majority-win, no runoff voting process that happened, the JV players held more control than the varsity players in the election for a varsity captain. Second, this didn’t run the other way. Varsity players were not able to vote for JV captains. The JV team effectively decided who was the varsity captain.
The seniors poke fun since the entire varsity team knows the situation.
Football | Will Forsen and Caleb Hughes
Captains in football were voted on by the team, allowing younger players to choose those who they believed to best lead the team through effort, sportsmanship, and heart. -WF
During two-a-days, our entire program votes on a few captains they’d like to see lead for the season. This method works well for the program, and anyone who wants to be a captain but isn’t voted as one, can easily take that role by acting the part and ignoring the mostly meaningless title.
-CH
Captains in football were voted on by the team, allowing younger players to choose those who they believed to best lead the team through effort, sportsmanship, and heart. -WF
During two-a-days, our entire program votes on a few captains they’d like to see lead for the season. This method works well for the program, and anyone who wants to be a captain but isn’t voted as one, can easily take that role by acting the part and ignoring the mostly meaningless title.
-CH
Boys Lacrosse | Caleb Hughes
Coaches pick captains. This can lead to some discontent, but most are mature enough to realize the insignificance of the title and the importance of being the untitled/unsaid captain.
Coaches pick captains. This can lead to some discontent, but most are mature enough to realize the insignificance of the title and the importance of being the untitled/unsaid captain.
Swimming | Jason Zhou and Jan Kasal
I do not recall any vote occurring, although at the same time the leaders for swimming also did not have a lot of responsibility. I believe that due to this, there was no real unrest.-JZ
The captains were appointed. Two seniors were chosen to be the main captains, and two juniors were chosen to be captains in training. Voting did not happen. Since no other seniors were interested in being captains, there was no unrest on the team as a result. -JK
I do not recall any vote occurring, although at the same time the leaders for swimming also did not have a lot of responsibility. I believe that due to this, there was no real unrest.-JZ
The captains were appointed. Two seniors were chosen to be the main captains, and two juniors were chosen to be captains in training. Voting did not happen. Since no other seniors were interested in being captains, there was no unrest on the team as a result. -JK
Field Hockey | Sydney Panagos and Almira Arnold
For field hockey, the leadership process was more laid back and fell mainly in the hands of our team. People who wanted to run for captain would make a speech, about 2 minutes or less, and present it in front of the team during a practice. Then, after all the speeches were done, we would write our top 2 choices and the coaches would tally the names up -SP
Those who wanted to be captains ran and got to express why they would make good leaders in a short speech. The team seemed very happy with the results. -AA
For field hockey, the leadership process was more laid back and fell mainly in the hands of our team. People who wanted to run for captain would make a speech, about 2 minutes or less, and present it in front of the team during a practice. Then, after all the speeches were done, we would write our top 2 choices and the coaches would tally the names up -SP
Those who wanted to be captains ran and got to express why they would make good leaders in a short speech. The team seemed very happy with the results. -AA
JV Lacrosse and C Soccer | Dylan Fox
Sports under Coach Hjelle were decided by player vote, subject to coach approval. No unrest. Actually that’s not true — I remember having to run sprints because someone tried to elect Bernie Sanders or Elmo or something in 9th grade soccer. That was unrest.
Sports under Coach Hjelle were decided by player vote, subject to coach approval. No unrest. Actually that’s not true — I remember having to run sprints because someone tried to elect Bernie Sanders or Elmo or something in 9th grade soccer. That was unrest.
Boys Basketball | Will Forsen
Captains were chosen by the coaches, but this did not cause any “unrest” to my knowledge.
Captains were chosen by the coaches, but this did not cause any “unrest” to my knowledge.
Girls Soccer | Sydney Panagos and Almira Arnold
For soccer, our coach decided who would be the best captain but would also ask during our meetings before the season started who we think would make a good captain. It was a little bit of an issue this year in soccer. We have 4 seniors who wanted to be captains. We knew for sure one of our captains even before the season started, but the other one was up in the air. It seemed like at first the seniors were fighting for that spot or trying to defend themselves in saying why they should be the other captain, but in the end it turned out okay. There is not any dispute between any teammates that I know of. -SP
For soccer, our coach decided who would be the best captain but would also ask during our meetings before the season started who we think would make a good captain. It was a little bit of an issue this year in soccer. We have 4 seniors who wanted to be captains. We knew for sure one of our captains even before the season started, but the other one was up in the air. It seemed like at first the seniors were fighting for that spot or trying to defend themselves in saying why they should be the other captain, but in the end it turned out okay. There is not any dispute between any teammates that I know of. -SP
There was a lot of discussion amongst all us seniors about the process, especially since we only had one captain for quite a while. I believe many on the team would like to vote on captains. However, I understand how a coach could have a better perspective on who would lead well and who would complement each other best as a pair of captains. -AA
