Two students at the MAC conference urged peers to take an active role in shaping school culture during a session at the conference; the speakers said student leaders are driving change and cited a recent club rush that drew “over, like, 50 people.”

The students said adults alone cannot improve school culture and that student leaders — including officers and club organizers — are the ones carrying school culture forward. Student 2, a student speaker, said, “The way we get better at solving and making our world a better place is not by me. It's by the work of the students who see it every day.”

Student 1, a student speaker, emphasized vocal participation and protecting one another’s identities: “We are not here to be silent. We can make a choice right now to be a person that protects the names of those that you love. Today, we're at the MAC conference. We cannot improve our culture as a district no matter how hard we try as adults alone.”

Both speakers urged creating spaces of belonging on campus and in school activities. Student 1 said, “A lot of people don't understand how powerful their words can be to or actions even to other people.” Student 2 cited recent student interest in extracurriculars: “We had a club rush recently and, like, we had over, like, 50 people sign up. So it's really growing. So that shows that people want change and, like, they wanna do something about it, and I really love that.”

Remarks occurred in the conference session; the transcript does not record any formal motions, votes, or staff directions resulting from the remarks.