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Hope, change, and Taco Tuesdays

Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary students have elected their first council in recent memory.
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From left

Campaign signs covered the halls of Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary last week when students elected their first council in recent memory.

“We’re going to get GTN pumped up,” says Cora Camire, one of four senior students who led the push for an elected student council.

Among the first things they want to do is host a pep rally for the girls volleyball team before they go off to compete at zones in Hazelton this November.

There is also talk of a school Spirit Week, intramural sports at lunch, a music club, painting a new mural out front, and having Taco Tuesdays (on Wednesdays).

Nearly 20 students ran for a spot on the 10-member council some with campaign managers.

Posters turned up in every hall, even on the volleyball net and on toilet lids. A few students gave a short speeches to their classes and took questions, too.

A “Vote for Mary Jane” sign worked well for Mary Edgars. Another one read, “Please vote for us, we already told our moms we won!”

Solas Reynolds discovered a highly effective campaign strategy he reminded voters of the many brownies and 69 cookies he baked for everyone just before the election. Others brought in cake and ice cream.

Turnout was strong, said the students, and many votes were extremely close, with near four-way ties.

GTN’s student council includes reps from all grades, and they decided in advance that they didn’t want to have a president.

“Also, we’re in Canada, so there’s no president, it’s a prime minister,” Reynolds pointed out.

Speaking with the Observer just after the election, council members were still coming up with fresh ideas.

“What if we got representatives coming from different post-secondary schools to come into our school and talk about higher education?” said Elim Sly Hooton.

“That would get kids motivated for post-secondary.”