Student Council Elections: Second Term Speeches

Polaris · Feb 15, 2017

The courtyard has been set up for elections, although the seats are only half full. Any interested candidate is free to book a time to make a speech on the afternoon of the 15th, explaining their position to interested students. While not mandatory for those running, a clear place to state your platform is a huge boon, and the majority of candidates are taking advantage of it.

The small stage has a podium and a few decorations, but the speeches themselves seem to be a low key affair.

(Please only post once in this thread with a character giving a speech. Do not roleplay in this thread outside of speeches.)

Romi · Feb 17, 2017

Havoc was not entering the election on impulse. It was a careful, conscious choice he'd made to put his name into the running.

Havoc did not have aspirations in the traditional sense. He was certainly driven--he wanted to move up in the ranks--but he didn't really have a goal. He didn't want to be a given rank, or retire as a General, or anything like that. He simply wanted to improve, and to keep on improving. He wasn't arrogant enough to believe he'd gotten past the point where he could improve his combat skills, but he was aware that there was a certain amount of diminishing returns. There was absolutely an upper limit on things like marksmanship and hand to hand combat, and while Havoc wasn't there yet, he was on the upper end of the term.

Really, that left one big glaring hole in his skill set: Leadership. He could handle a unit in combat situations, when dealing with people who were in a similar mindset to himself. He could handle things on duty. It was off duty that became an issue, off duty where his distinct lack of social skills had impacted him. He had all the emotions of a rock, and faking them was both exhausting and mandatory.

It was something he was going to have to work on if he ever wanted to really advance.

Havoc was unconcerned about the speech part of the campaign. He'd put a fair amount of thought into it, identified what he felt was a weakness in the school's system, and then he'd refined his speech over and over. He was no stranger to making speeches, although he wasn't used to having to be so animated. In the military he could have delivered the speech without batting an eye and not drawn any attention for it, but among civilians he was expected to smile.

Havoc opted to make his speech first, if only to get it out of the way, and approached the podium with an easy smile. Up close, the smile wouldn't hold up to direct scrutiny, but at a distance it looked just fine. It looked normal enough, just like he practiced.

"I'd like to thank you for having me," Havoc said, his voice normal if a bit flat. "I know I'm entering this race as an underdog. I haven't been on the island long, and many of those I'll be running against will no doubt have been here for years." Setting himself up as an underdog, check.

"Even so, I come with experience. While I've never sat on a student council, I service with the United States military as an officer. I've lead teams into combat situations, and I've mediated disputes among the unit. I worked my way up there, just like I intend to work my way up here." Showing commitment, check. Showing that he didn't have a silver spoon, check.

"For me, student safety is the biggest thing that Starlight Academy is overlooking. Almost everyone here has some kind of power or special ability that puts them at a level above human, and the assumption seems to be that because so many students are more than human they couldn't face danger. This is a mistake for two reasons. One, a large portion of the population either can't control their powers well enough to rely on them in times of danger, or have powers which are less useful in combat. Being able to speed read quickly through any book and memorize it instantly is undeniably useful, but it won't help in the event of bullying or assault. Secondly, in the event that something were to happen to disable people's powers--whether by some kind of power cancelling power or by an act of god--a huge portion of the student body would be defenseless.

"Self defense should be something that is easily accessible to all members of the student body, regardless of age. Learning to defend yourself should be something the school encourages. If elected, I'd like to make these resources more readily available for those who would seek them, so that everyone can feel safe in the community. After the disappearance of Kayla Griffin, who so many of you are familiar with, this has become all the more important."

Havoc paused for a moment to signal a topic change, already exhausted but only half done.

"I'd also like to see that there be more even representation. Our current student council is sixty percent high school students, and forty percent college students. Our previous council was eighty percent college students and only twenty percent high school students. There hasn't been an elementary school student on the council in more than a year. I'd like to reorganize the council to overcome this disparity. While the president and vice president should be the most qualified, I feel it's far more important for all three schools to be properly represented on the council, rather than for the election to make arbitrary divisions about who is in charge of what.

Overall, I hope to see the council make many positive changes in the coming term, and I hope as well to be part of it. Thank you."

With that, Havoc stepped back from the podium, heading off the platform to let someone else make a speech.

Smiling was exhausting.

Hyper · Feb 22, 2017

If there was one thing Raphael noticed while listening to the other candidates speeches, it was probably how they definitely had it all planned out before signing up to run for the Student Council. That wasn't his thing. He didn't plan for anything at all. That was not how he rolled. He did things on the fly, speeches for him was whatever goes save for a few points he wanted to make.

He signed up on a whim, thinking this was just another election for the school body. He never took this seriously, not even when he ran for student council back at the old school (and totally won for his chosen position just through sheer charisma). In any case, he had ideas on how to sway crowds but Squinty over there made it sound like he was the underdog of the bunch already. Jeez, he was planning to play that card somewhere along the line. If anyone dared to look at the lineup, Raphael was fresh catch for this school to even be thinking of running for anything in this school. He's only been in there for what... a month at least?

Huff. Fine. He was just. Going to wing this thing anyway. Say what he had in mind and roll with it. It didn't matter if he won or not -- although winning would be such a bonus. But really, he just honestly liked being talked about and running for student council positions sound like one place to get talked about in a good light. Assuming he doesn't blunder up his speech or basically anything else that would connect him to the elections in general. Not that it was a problem for him on the usual day!

Raphael walked up to the podium with a bright smile on his face that could possibly rival the previous speaker. "A wonderful day to everyone here today! My name is Raphael Niccolo running for the student council," he began, his voice just as light and chipper. "Now I know, compared to some of my fellow candidates, none of you may know me -- I'm a fresh meat, just recently moved in this year. I'm no popular figure here, I'm not part of the cheerleaders, I'm no heir to any fancy names and businesses, no military experience whatsoever nor am I a club leader -- heck, I'm not even part of a club yet! Can you blame me that I can't choose which clubs to join yet? But if you ask me, that doesn't really give me any reason to feel inferior. I'm a student here, just like all of you! I'm a high-school student, just like some of you here and I also live in this island. I -- am one of you guys."

Doing great! Go on, go on.

Raphael leaned on the podium, a rather relaxed stance for someone doing a speech -- he wasn't one to be nervous in a crowd anyway. "Compared to everyone here on the island? I'm not all special; I'm just a guy who happens to be special enough to be accepted into the school but you know what? I don't think that's bad. That makes me closer to everyone here who really needs to be heard. That makes me closer to the ones who really need the student council." Raphael's voice quieted down, his bright expression somewhat more solemn. "This school might have been for the special people, the ones that normies would probably call weirdos and freaks. This place is supposed to be sanctuary but you know the first thing I noticed? That's not entirely the case here.

"See, representation is great and all but I think we're missing one thing. Can you really respect representation when you haven't stopped discrimination?" As he raised his voice, Raphael straightened up, taking a more dynamic air to him, "I was born to be a bad omen, but I don't believe that. I'm a person myself and I want people to have this much faith in themselves as was instilled in me. My vision as part of the student council is to extend a hand to the support organizations of our school whether its for shapeshifters, demons, fae, or all other walks of life and unlife that needs the student council on their side. I support diversity and it's my aim to bring the council's service to these communities."

Raphael didn't make his 'platform' complicated. He went on listing several events that supported his spoken goals, like opening boards for groups like the DSU to the council (and not failing to mention the group name!) and all sorts of things that he was sure pro-diversity. In retrospect, it probably sounded rather big for him to propose alone especially going with the fact he was really not invested in this but that was a concern for later. Maybe his speech could actually get him the support he needed.

"So with that, I hope to see we all come together for this purpose in bringing us all together, and to making our school better than ever, for me, for you and every student to come! Thank you and have a wonderful day ahead of you all!"

The horseman's exit was probably bordering shameless and lame, giving the crowd double finger guns with a wink before waving off and stepping off the podium, waving to the next speaker with a muttered 'break a leg!'

In any case. That wasn't so bad.

Kathinja · Feb 22, 2017

It was a good thing A’laya was scheduled to be one of the later speeches, because as usual they were fashionably late. They needed the perfect outfit if they were going to be up on stage in front of a crowd, after all. They were presenting as feminine that day, with glimmering blue eyeshadow and dark lips. They wore a shimmering black dress—not too gaudy, but still meant to catch the eye as the bright stage lights hit them as they made their way toward the podium. Between the stage and the tall heels A’laya wore, they seemed to tower over the audience as they spoke.

“Hello hello beautiful people~!”

There was a roar of applause. Nice to know they were speaking to a crowd of fans! It was apparently that a good portion of the crowd was already familiar with A’laya and their work online. That gave A’laya a rush of energy, further pumping them up to make this speech.

“In case you’re not familiar: my name is A’laya. I am a college student here at Starlight Academy, studying Communications and Theatre. I already have a bit of a career I suppose you could say making videos online, but I am here at the school because of my passion! I am someone who is highly driven to succeed, and if I become a part of the student council, I will be driven to succeed FOR YOU! You want beautiful people to represent you! To represent your school! Because that makes you beautiful too!”

There was more applause. But there were definitely some people side-eyeing each other as well as if to say ‘what does that even mean?’ But A’laya was not concerned. They would win these people over just as they had so many others before.

“And what am I talking about when I say ‘beautiful?’ I’m not just talking about physical beauty—as great as that is! But no, I am talking about a beautiful environment. Beautiful attitudes. Letting inner beauty shine. I want a school environment that lets YOU be who YOU are.”

Woo-ing and clapping arouse from the audience. A’laya was a passionate speaker; a natural storyteller. They could make just about anything compelling.

“That is my goal! To optimize the school environment for every one of you! To give you what you all deserve to be the best you can be!”

What did that mean? Eh, well, it would likely be interpreted many different ways depending on the person. And that is exactly what A’laya wanted.

“That’s what I am all about, after all: helping people be the best they can be. If you vote for me, I can do that for you and our beautiful school.”

A’laya went on to explain some of their ideas: expanding on education with field trips and new, unique classes. Introducing new ideas to fundraising efforts to make them more successful. More community efforts to expand the school’s beauty to the rest of Manta Carlos.

A’alaya may have been an attention-seeking Envy demon, but there was no denying that their attention-seeking actually led to some creative ideas—and there seemed to be a genuine interest from A’laya to not just draw attention to themselves, but to help their fellow students. Whether that was really genuine or just A’laya being a damn good actress…eeeeehhh…

“I hope you consider shooting your vote my way, and together we can make Starlight Academy a beautiful place for both you and me to grow together into the best damn people we can be!”

Ending their speech on that high note, A’laya winked and waved as they walked off stage to applause. Aw, yes, that felt good. All those eyes on them. All that attention!

Ashes · Feb 25, 2017

Ohhh God.
There were a lot of people out there. Tall people, small people, ghosts, huge tentacle monsters, everything in between...
Ohhh God.
The people in the crowd.. There were a looot of people. So many he almost felt dizzy at the sight of them.
No, Nix told himself, opening his trusty thermos to reveal a full-to-the-brim dose of coffee. Nix, you're gonna rock this, and you're gonna do this so well. You're gonna knock their socks off, he told himself. Right off their damn feet. Right into the freaking sky.
Forcing a smile, he watched the runner before him start to close off their speech, took a deep breath (or, well, let's be real - he took about three) and took a swig of his coffee, the warm bitter liquid adding to his confidence meter greatly. And his energy. Which was kinda the reason he was so jittery at the moment... He was sure he'd calm down before he got up to the stage. Still, so many - Stop.
A stressed sigh. Havoc had already gone, and so had Emily - both were awesome in the delivery and expression of their speeches, offering something different and interesting with each new one. Each candidate seemed to know how to work the crowd. He hoped, for the sake of his spot, that he was going to enthrall the crowd as much as they had. Speaking of... The runner before him stepped off the stage, and he gulped again, before taking another deep breath.
Yes, he was going to rock this. He had to. Confidently, Nix stepped up to the stage and took the mic, and with one last sigh, started to speak. Some applause came from the audience, and the redhead grinned. Those nice souls in the audience. "Thank you very much," he opened with, in a deep voice. An Elvis reference.
"Alright. Let's get started, shall we?" He strolled to the front of the stage, where he was more visible, all trace of anxiety gone. "What makes a good secretary? That's the question I asked myself when I started writing this speech, about -" he made a gesture, as if to check his watch (even if he didn't have one) - "five minutes ago."
Cue laughter (though sparse). Right on time. Nix smiled. "I thought to myself, I said - Nix, what makes a good secretary? What qualities do I need? And then it hit me." Letting the humble side of him take over, he continued. "I believe there are five good qualities anyone needs to become a good secretary. These are - Honesty, the will to help, a good ear, good teamwork or team spirit, and of course, fast and neat handwriting. I just so happen to fill all five. Lemme show you!"
And so he did, using large hand gestures and concise explanations of why he was a good secretary candidate. Through it all, Nix realized something.
Man, did he love talking. And explaining. And politics!
But mostly talking about something he really resonated with. THAT was what set him off.
Finally, his speech came to a conclusion. "In conclusion, I'd love to work for you, all of you, as secretary! And, who, you ask, do you need to vote for? The Phoenix, bringing change one word at a time. Or at least, I hope so. I'm Phoenix Jamston, you've been a wonderful crowd, and thank you for your time."
Cue the bow, aaaand...
There it was - the applause.
He'd done it. He really had done it. He was really running.
And so he took his place back at the side, grinning goofily.
Damn. That was FUN.

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Student Council Elections: Second Term Speeches

Polaris

For official threads only. Do not PM.

Romi

Secretly a Bird

Hyper

ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

Kathinja

The Lesbian Factory

Ashes

WELP THIS JUST GOT INTERESTING.