New Trier has always had a tolerance for democracy, but recent Student Council campaign events have the school board rethinking their republic. With parties vying for reforms such as changing lunchroom prices and increasing parking spaces, the posters for StuCo presidential elections and candidates are impossible to miss. Their methods are controversial to say the least. Due to excessive flyering, sophomores are having trouble finding their classes, with many of them spontaneously curling into the fetal position in the middle of hallways out of anxiety over their mounting SISO violations. 

Additionally, a noticeable rise in the number of janitors solely dedicated to stripping the walls of their colorful bounty have taken place. But despite the efforts, a nightly vigilante consistently plasters more posters than the school board can seem to deal with. 

But it’s not only the janitorial staff that has changed. The student body also seems to be polarized into two very separate parties: the Confrontational Cookie Party (CCP), championing the lowering of lunch room prices, and North Shore Progressives (NSP), with their driving cause being increasing New Trier parking capacity. The two groups have been ceremoniously butting heads through extensive bake sales and banners hanging from the stairs—even the elusive P stairwell has been sighted sporting some streaming slogans. 

The school board is very unaffected by the recent happenings, with very little word being made in regards to the containment of these extravagant events. As a result, many students have been petitioning against these campaigns. A new, third party, the Silent Study Schoolers (SSS), have turned to peaceful, silent protests to champion their cause of expanding the silent study room. We’ve gathered some of the conflicting parties for a first-hand look at their perspectives:

“Prices are extortionate!  Bring back the dolla cookie or there’s gonna be crookies!” (CCK)

“That useless field outside could so be used for parking. Industrialize, don’t frust-rialize!” (NSP)

“…” (SSS)

Even some of the staff is beginning to join these movements—although technically, this is in violation of New Trier’s policies. We have uncovered evidence that they have been using the lockers on the first floor by the P stairwell to facilitate their “secret” meetings about the elections. We have even been told that there is actually a new connection of offices and break rooms in this secret system of tunnels. 

Excitement for this upcoming election is ramping up, and middle-men students are finding it increasingly difficult to stay neutral. The heckling in the halls is close to getting out of hand, and we wonder if the school board will take any more initiative to quell this ostentatious activity. For now, there seems to be little animosity between the parties, but there has been an increasing use of malicious TrevTips designed to slander other candidates. 

The school board has yet to decide the extent of our democratic freedom, but that has not stopped fierce campaigns and boycotts. The lunchroom economy is looking at its worst year yet, with cookie sales dropping dramatically due to the CCK’s efforts. Urban design and construction classes have reached capacity as NSP supporters threaten to build their own car park. The most peaceful part of all of this however, has been the SSS who silently campaign by sitting on the ground in the silent study room and filling up its floor space, courteously leaving the desk space free, albeit a bit cramped. 

Clearly this student council election has brought controversy to the New Trier halls, but no matter who you vote for this election, know that the spirit of Trevian democracy is very much alive and well.