Spoon tag. Goats on the plaza. Cotton candy during DaVinci. Dunk for Books. A Block Blast tournament. These are just a few of the projects organized by the Students Affair Council to brighten students’ days. Behind the scenes, SAC spends hours preparing and planning to make these activities happen.
SAC hosts events weekly, advertising them on Instagram and in the weekly Infographic. Although most activities offer house points as a prize, these events provide students with more than just a competitive rush.
“The goal of SAC is to represent as many interests and voices as possible,” Head Prefect Mark Doan said. “This school has so many people interested in so many things, and we have to take advantage of that.”
To make sure they can address all student interests, SAC sponsors offer an alternate source of advice for the student leaders.
“We’re kind of the sounding board to a certain extent,” sponsor Alice Fogler said. “We can speak up if we think that an idea is something that should absolutely be done or something that is going to be logistically more difficult to do.”
Run by prefect Mark Vann, one of SAC’s most popular projects is Spoon Tag, a game where students tag an assigned “target” with the plastic utensil. After trying to implement his own spin on the game during his freshman year on SAC, Vann decided to revert to the traditional format. As students became invested in the competition, many were seen carrying a plastic spoon in their hoodie pockets with their hands protecting the front of their neck.
Vann appreciates his project’s ability to help others connect and have fun. “It’s a really good way to meet people, especially in the earlier part of the year when people are getting to know each other,” Vann said. He plans to appoint a “successor” to continue running the game after he graduates this May.
Started this year by sophomore SAC president Graham Johnson, Dunk For Books is another well-known SAC project. Students must donate at least one book to the organization Books Between Kids to participate in a dunking contest on the Plaza, and the winner receives a $25 Chick-fil-A gift card.
“I wanted more fun activities, and I felt like basketball was a great incentive for people to participate in community service too,” Johnson said.
Sophomore representative Allison Lu, who helps out with Dunk for Books, also loves working on the project. “It intertwines community service and fun,” Lu said.
If SAC members want to propose new ideas, they detail their project in a Google Doc and then present it at weekly Wednesday meetings for discussion. After coordinating event logistics, members place proposals at the desk of Dean of Students Bailey Duncan for finalization. After creating a few Instagram posts and plastering posters around the school, the event is carried out.
In the end, the work of SAC representatives pays off as students enjoy the snacks and activities offered.
“The SAC-Johnnycake collaboration for Musical Name that Tune was so meaningful. Seeing this massive room full of people from Johnnycake, people from SAC and leaders from both leading the activity was amazing,” Fogler said.
Those within SAC acknowledge each other’s hard work and SAC’s subsequent progress.
“This year all the prefects have a bunch of different interests and they’re taking initiative with them, and then all the reps, presidents and vice presidents from the other grades are really stepping up in each of our respective cohorts,” Vann said. “We’re all getting a lot of the goals done that we had for SAC this year.”
The Head Prefect has high hopes for the future of SAC.
“I hope each prefect and representative continues bringing passion to all their projects, just churning out as many quality projects as possible and prioritizing the student body,” Doan said. “SAC means a lot to this year’s prefects, and I hope next year’s value it just as much.”
