January 17, Tuesday, marked the third annual Student Council’s Loomis Leadership Conference (LLC), a forum that included  StuCo representatives, class officers, presidents of major campus organizations, leaders in LC residential life, and committee heads. Discussions at the LLC pertained to an overarching theme that correlated with the Student Council’s objectives for the year. This year, attendees were asked to consider the query, “How can we, as a community, promote respect, integrity and goodwill on campus?”

The subtopics pertaining to this theme included considering means of effectively recognizing civic engagement and acts of goodwill performed by students, the establishment of new leadership positions, ways to increase involvement and dedication to  extracurricular activities, and methods of implementing the new code of ethics, recently named the ‘Pelicode.’

Among the ideas presented in response to rewarding students for exemplary acts of integrity was that of spotlighting students in a manner similar to the Pelican of the Week system used for athletics. Possibilities for implementation of this concept include the distribution of drop boxes around campus, in which students could submit nominations for peers who perform good deeds on campus, (winners selected from the nominees would potentially be noted in the daily bulletin). The Student Council and Pelicode committee will be investigating other venues for spotlighting students of character as well, in accordance with the LLC and Student Council’s goals.

The LLC discussion of instituting new leadership positions ultimately focused not on establishing more positions, but instead on improving advertising for leadership positions already in existence. Advertising for extracurricular activities was also discussed as a means of providing gateways into future leadership positions, particularly for underclassmen and new students. 

Proposed methods of advertising included providing clubs with an opportunity to describe their initiatives and the commitment required for membership in a convocation, in addition to those already available during the annual clubs fair. Mandatory monthly meetings for clubs, to encourage establishing organized routines for these extracurriculars, were suggested as a possibility as well. Club awards were also considered as a means of encouraging both active club participation and club pride. 

Although the Pelicode committee will further pursue the topic of integrating the Pelicode into the Loomis Chaffee community, the LLC laid the groundwork for possible methods of incorporation. Convocations were regarded as a useful tool for disseminating information regarding the Pelicode by the LLC members, because such all-school meetings would introduce new students to the code and, it is hoped, will eventually include time for seniors to reflect on their experiences and outlook regarding the Pelicode. Devoting one class period every year to discussions on both the Pelicode and the value of such a pledge was also suggested.