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Working toward a civil community

Taimur Rehman '25

On October 28, Mercersburg Academy will host its first Civics Conference. Planned to coincide with election season, the event has been organized by Nicole Brown and Allison Stephens with support from the Civic Engagement Student Advisory Board and a lot of help from Mercersburg’s administrative teams. It will be an all-day affair with guests speaking on topics ranging from local government to the right to bear arms. Keynote speakers include Judge John Jones ‘73, President of Dickinson College, and Jill Klein P’11, former Interim President of Pitzer College.

Brown outlined her hopes for the conference: “I’m really excited for all of our students to interact with guest speakers who have done amazing work in their fields, who are experts, and who cover such different areas. They are donating their time, and it is such a unique opportunity for our students.” Associate Head of School for School Life Julie Maurer ‘90 added, “I hope that students can learn something about themselves, engage in good discussions, and become informed, engaged citizens.” Head of School Quentin McDowell echoed her sentiment, saying, “The conference is about encouraging students to learn more about key topics, ask questions, share opinions, and hear the views of others.”

Student advisory board members made their voices heard in preparation for the event. Tiana Lee ‘25, a board member, said, “Ms. Brown and Ms. Stephens had a big role in planning, but we did have input. We also paired ourselves as guides with the speakers we were most drawn to. One thing I hope this conference will do is let students spend time on more ‘controversial’ topics that people don’t always discuss.” Ryan Kothari ‘25, another board member, added, “The conference is a good chance for all students to think about what they truly want out of our community and as part of our country. It will create conversation and connection between the things we want to see improve or change in our lives.”

Around campus, there is buzz surrounding the event. Teagen Mewett ‘27 said, “I’m excited to have guest speakers bring their points of view on important subjects to our campus. I think it will inspire students to take a more active role in their communities. I’m not old enough to make any real change yet, but I can vote in the next midterm elections. I hope I’ll remember what I’ve learned and be able to use it to vote for the things I believe in.” Morgan Hess ‘25 added, “I am planning on attending Kat Patterson's session. I’m interested in hearing about her experiences during the BLM protests. I also signed up for Mr. Heffron's session about the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. I’d like to hear others’ perspectives.”

Avery Liu ‘25 said, “I’m excited about the speakers I chose. One of my choices is about prison reform, and that resonates with me because of my capstone project surrounding Gatekeepers. Civic engagement is important for students at our school. It lets them hear perspectives they hadn’t heard before.” Cole Piriano ‘26 commented, “I’m excited to see people who understand so many different aspects of the modern world. Hopefully, I can learn what it means to engage with the world around me and keep an open mind on complex issues.”

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