As Nominating Committee 2022 approaches, there will be a few changes to the process due to concerns about confidentiality and a toxic environment. Dean of Students Will Miller and Upper School Director Noah Rachlin talked to the Clerks in January and have decided to change the way the Nominating Committee will be run this year.
Nominating Committee or “Nom Com” is the group that decides on Diversity Clerks, Meeting for Worship for Business Clerk, Agenda Clerk, and Recording Clerk for the upcoming school year. The committee contains at least three students from each grade level and plans to meet twice before coming to a conclusion. Anyone in the Upper School that is interested in Nom Com is welcome to join, however the window to express interest in participating closed last week.
Although the past two years worked differently because the committee met virtually, Nom Com has traditionally met over several weeks to elect clerks. Lily Buchdahl ’22 said, “Nom Com meets once or twice a rotation during lunch, and there are faculty advisors; they do not participate, but they are there to answer questions and keep conversations civil.”
Some students believe the process fosters a toxic environment: “It was pretty known that [Nom Com] was toxic and not as productive as it could have been. I mean you’re discussing people who you go to school with, and so sometimes not the nicest things would be said,” Buchdahl added. People were reported to have been “stacking” committees. Stacking is when applicants are asking their friends to join the committee to talk on their behalf.
Confidentiality became another issue. Despite signing a confidentiality contract at the beginning of Nom Com, members of the committee continued conversations after meetings and would discuss meetings with their friends. Buchdahl said, “It’s unfortunate but you can’t really expect people not to share what was going on; it’s high school.”
To combat these issues, Miller and Rachlin decided to change Nominating Committee to one day, April 28, 2022, starting at 3:30 PM. Members of the committee will stay in the meeting until unity is reached, regardless of how long it takes.
The new process has received positive feedback from returning members of the committee. Current Agenda clerk Andrew Mercantini ’23 said, “I think [the new process] is a great change, it makes the committee more concise so the new cabinet can start work earlier.”
“I’m excited about Nom Com this year”, Vanya Weinstock ’23 said, “I went last year as well and am looking forward to seeing how the new structure plays out.”
