Canon City High School students lose right to vote for class officers

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Nov 8, 1999 by Associated Press

CANON CITY - While students were learning how democracy works in government classes, Canon City High School officials decided they could choose a student government without any help from students.

"It's a new trial run this year," said Barb Cuppy, a teacher and sophomore class sponsor. She said only 20 to 30 percent of the student body members have been voting.

"This is not really representative," she said.

Critics noted the turnout at Fremont County's election last week was 20 percent.

"I think there's a better way to address low voter turnout than to just take the vote away," said Andrina Carochi, a senior and student council president. "If few people vote in the county election, do we appoint?"

Cuppy and two other class sponsors picked the new council from a list of applicants. Carochi said when students were asked to apply, it was not made clear that there would be no election.

"That's contrary to what we've been teaching about getting out and voting," said Jim Woodward, who teaches government. He urged students to "voice your objections to a class sponsor or the administration."

Principal Ron Minty said in the past some students who already had more than they could handle had been elected to student government.

He said having teachers choose the government would avoid that problem.

"I strongly support this," Minty said of the new approach.

Cuppy said students who applied to be in the student government are asked to list their activities and hobbies. They also are asked why they want to be a class officer and how much time they can spend on student government activities.