Student Government

Student Government consists of the Student Council, class officers, and the Student Spiritual Life Committee.

Student Council officers are elected in the spring of the preceding year in accordance with the Student Council Constitution. Prior to the election, each Student Council officer candidate will prepare and deliver a speech before the student body on his own behalf.

At the beginning of each year, each class, except the freshman class, conducts elections for a Class President, Vice-President, Student Spiritual Life Representative and three Student Council Representatives. Freshmen have elections during the second quarter, after they have had a chance to get to know their classmates. The student council functions as a forum for the student body to demonstrate and practice student leadership.

In September of every year, St. Lawrence Seminary students elected to leadership positions are commissioned during a prayer service. During the service, the Rector asks the newly elected leaders to respond to three questions:

• As a class officer or student council officer, are you willing to serve your classmates by humbly accepting the leadership entrusted to you?
• Are you able to recognize that the good that comes through your efforts is really the power of God within you?
• Are you resolved to cooperate with the leadership of St. Lawrence Seminary in order to build a community based on faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and respect for each individual?

The newly elected leaders are presented with a Tau Cross made by Br. John Willger and his students in woodshop. The Tau was a favored symbol of St. Francis, and signifies for the community a desire to be servant-leaders like St. Francis.

In late November, after the freshman class elects its leaders, the Student Council President presides at an evening prayer in which the freshmen leaders are commissioned. Again, these student leaders are asked to commit themselves to serve the community and are presented with Tau Crosses.