Student Council President Breaks the Mold

Upper School Student Council President Austin S. ’20 addresses the school community during the annual Thanksgiving Assembly at Christ Church, Nov. 26, 2019. (Da Ping Luo)

Students want their voices heard. This year, student council president Austin S. ’20, intends to listen to the voices of the Browning community to help him develop and initiate plans for positive change.

“One of my main focuses is listening to the students,” Austin said. “They have great ideas, and I want to use those ideas to help make their Browning experience the best it can be.” 

Having attended Browning since kindergarten, Austin wants to give back to the community that taught him how to advocate for change. His goal is to lead by example, using his position to challenge the status quo and inspiring others to do the same. 

“Browning has given me so much over the years,” Austin said, “and I feel that I owe it to everyone here to help ensure that the school’s tradition of excellence continues.”

Austin’s 13 years in the Browning community have fostered a deep connection with his fellow students. Now, as student council president, he intends to provide the transparency the students need to keep current on student council initiatives.

“Austin gives me the facts, nothing distracting from the truth,” Kabir K. ’22 said. “He never tries to distort the information I’m seeking, and that is what I like about him.” 

Austin’s administration is already showing success. Participation in Halloween’s costume day showed a marked increase from previous years, boosting camaraderie and school spirit across all divisions. Whereas dressing up in costume had been a privilege limited to seniors and lower school students, this year’s student council lobbied for inclusion for the entire school community. As a result, many students, teachers, and administrators showed up to school in costumes, creating a fun and festive day for all. 

“The leadership Austin has shown in developing and participating in these clubs has prepared him to be an advocate for students’ ideas in his role as student council president.”

Tackling a more academic goal, the student council is preparing a proposal for all student grades to be posted on Veracross. 

“I do not like how some teachers post on Veracross and others on Google Classroom,” Kabir said. “If all of my grades were in one place, I would feel more organized about prioritizing my assignments. I am in favor of the student council’s proposal, because it will help me understand at a glance where I need to improve my academics and where I have stable grades.” 

Stapleton most recently spearheaded the student council’s Movember campaign, which encouraged students and faculty members to grow moustaches during the month of November to foster consciousness about men’s health issues. 

“I wanted to help in raising awareness regarding prostate and testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention, which is why Movember was created,” Coach Michael Cohn said. “It’s obviously an important cause, and being able to bring attention to it in a fun way is great for the Browning community.” 

Even though Austin’s previous administrative experience is limited, having served a one-year term on the middle school student council in Form I, he still feels confident in leading the student body. During his upper school career, he has brought issues to the attention of faculty and has generated camaraderie among students by creating clubs. 

“I believe that my experience in engaging with school administrators, and founding clubs like Workout Buddies and the Debate Club, has helped me in formulating proposals at the start of my term,” Stapleton said. Debate Club, in particular, has proven popular among students, boasting 24 participants this year. 

The leadership Austin has shown in developing and participating in these clubs has prepared him to be an advocate for students’ ideas in his role as student council president. 

“I hope to leave a legacy of positive change in the Browning community,” Austin said, “and I believe that can happen with the student-driven agenda I intend to carry out.”