by Ari Mayblum ’25
TLS’s 2022 Student Government Executive Board has been elected! This year’s board includes juniors Ben Wanderman, Ilan Brusso, Ari Estrin and sophomore Lily Jacobson.
New student-body president Ben Wanderman has not previously had a role on the Executive Board but believes that his previous collaboration with student government has prepared him well for this job.
“It allowed me to work with a lot of people in student government and get a sense of the inner workings and how things get done,” Wanderman said. “Now as president, I can take it upon myself to make sure things go a certain way so everything is done more efficiently and quickly.”
Wanderman understands the duties of his new position and wants to ensure all is done correctly.
“I think one responsibility of the president is to, first of all, be a decision maker,” Wanderman said. “It’s my job to make sure everything is done according to the constitution.”
Wanderman is also excited to plan events and is adamant about having an “Among Us” in real life. He is determined to achieve his goals as president to benefit the student body and will not take the first “no” as an answer.
”I’m going to be persistent. If I am told no about something, I don’t think it’s a ‘no’,” Wanderman said. “I think it’s ‘no for now’ and I will try to see if I can find another way around it.”
Additionally, Ilan Brusso is excited to step into the position of vice president and notes that his prior experience as communications chairperson has prepared him for this role.
“As communications chairperson, I learned what it means to be on the executive board and be a leader of the school,” Brusso said. “Since I was the only sophomore, Drew Wilenzick, who was the president at the time, always made sure that I was comfortable sharing my ideas and speaking up. Now, as vice president, I am committed to ensuring that everyone, whether they are a freshman or junior, feel able to use their voice.”
Because of Brusso’s experience as an underclassman in student government, he is ready and eager to make it an open and safe environment for all students.
“My broad goal as vice president is to make student government more accessible for the average student,” Brusso said. “Student government is the main link from students to the administration, and, if voices are heard, can ensure that the school changes for the better. More specifically, I want to work to safely reopen the lounges, plan more fun grade-bonding trips, and make it so that there are always water jugs in the hallways!”
Brusso believes the changes to the committees will “maximize efficiency in student government” so that every member has certain responsibilities.
“Now that the committees have very specific roles and much fewer people, it ensures that everyone can play an active role,” Brusso said. “The different committees reflect the two major roles of student government: advocating for the student body and enhancing the high school experience.”
Junior Ari Estrin has previous experience in student government as a member of the Events Committee and believes it has prepared her for her new role as chief of staff.
“Working in the Events Committee really allowed me to learn how to collaborate with others efficiently,” Estrin said. “It taught me how to get constructive feedback from people and how to compromise in a mutually beneficial way.”
Estrin is excited to step into this new role and hopes to use this platform to communicate with the entire student body, including both members and non-members of student government.
“Something that is actually really exciting for me as chief of staff is that I don’t really have any clearly outlined responsibilities,” Estrin said. “The role has never really been defined, which means that I get the opportunity to define it myself and take on responsibilities that I am suited for and that I want to do. I hope this means that I can interact with people both in and out of the student government, and be available to help them achieve their ideas.”
Estrin understands that her role is not necessarily to achieve her personal goals, but rather the average student’s goal in order to better the school for everyone.
“My main goal is really to help other people with their goals,” Estrin said. “I hesitate to definitively say what my main goals are because my role isn’t to make the school how I want, my goal is to help improve the school in a way that everyone will be able to enjoy.”
