Even though Student Officers and Student Government both contain the word “student,” they are not the same. A lot of Clayton High School students do not know the purpose of StuGo.
Student Government is, as the name implies, an organization of student-elected members who work to improve and unify the high school. Although the organization does not make executive decisions on school policies, it hosts student activities and community fundraisers. Kurt Kleinberg, a math teacher and one of the sponsors of StuGo, emphasizes that Student Government is not just a name.
“We are here to be a body that does things, organizes, cares,” Kleinberg said. “We are just trying to make a positive impact on the school and that’s what we are always working towards.”
Members of StuGo agree and expand Kleinberg’s definition.
“StuGo is a group of students who represent the student body and do things the students actually want to do, instead of things the teachers want to do,” Eve Root, a senior who is the president of StuGo, said.
This year, StuGo is trying to be more active in the community, and has taken on many new projects, one of which is the indoor soccer tournament. Although StuGo is most commonly known for hosting the Halloween Dance, it also hosts the Arts Fair, the Blood Drive, Three vs. Three Basketball, the canned food drive, the Adopt a Family fundraiser, activities with Clayton Connection, and other forms of community service.
“We also do the appreciation breakfast for the staff,” Kleinberg adds. “My hope is that Stugo is not just some entity of the building that just throws on a dance. I want to take a more active role in the community.”
In response to the additional events, members of StuGo have taken more responsibility. There are 28 members of StuGo, seven elected members from each grade. From the 28 members, four officers are elected.
This year, Root is president, vice president is Shelby Sternberg, treasurer is Joe Everts, and secretary is Sonja Peterman. The sponsors are Kleinberg and Kurtis Werner.
“This year, it seems the members have really stepped up, responsibility-wise,” Kleinberg said. “It’s more of a time commitment than most people realize.”
StuGo meets 16 times per year, every two weeks, during the school day and at night. StuGo members can be kicked out if they do not attend meetings or develop behavior issues.
“Attendance was an issue” Kleinberg said. “A couple of years ago, we put in effect a new attendance policy.”
Although so far, issues in general have been rare.
With the Homecoming dance over, StuGo is starting to prepare for the Halloween Dance on Oct. 30. Deriving from the success of the Homecoming dance, where tickets sold out, Kleinberg has high expectations for the Halloween Dance.
“I hope, at least in the decoration aspect, to create a climate as cool, if not cooler than last year’s,” Kleinberg said. “Last year [the dance] was in the auditorium, the first dance ever to be on stage.”
This year, the dance is taking place in the Commons. StuGo anticipates a lot of work decorating and a high turnout for the dance.

“From my perspective, and from a historical standpoint, it’s one of the best dances that this school has to offer all year,” Kleinberg said.
Although StuGo is taking on many new responsibilities, along with old ones such as the Halloween Dance, President Eve Root says, “It’s never a burden. We always have fun!”