Pali students were introduced to their 11 newly elected members of the Associated Student Body (ASB) cabinet for the 2021-22 school year via Schoology on April 8 and 9. After a long year of virtual learning, these elected officials are already laying the groundwork to ease students into the fall semester.

Peter Garff, Commissioner of Communications

Among the winners is sophomore and Commissioner of Student Involvement Peter Garff, who will become the Commissioner of Communications in the fall. Garff said that his two years in Pali ASB combined with his experience as Paul Revere Charter Middle School’s ASB President from 2018-19 motivated him to run for the position. 

“Real change usually happens at the board level and I am excited to push specific concerns and agenda items through the ASB members that sit on those [Board of Trustee] committees,” Garff said. 

Garff hopes to address problems such as decreasing the academic achievement gap and moving Pali to 100% renewable energy. However, he said his main goal next year is to strengthen the bond between students, stating that he is “committed to making Pali a more connected and participatory school.”

Tyler Hoffman, Commissioner of Athletics

Another ASB member with prior leadership experience, sophomore Tyler Hoffman will serve as the new Commissioner of Athletics. In middle school, Hoffman was elected to be the Vice President at Paul Revere Charter Middle School. Hoffman said that his ambition to become more involved in the Pali community drove him to run.

“I will work really hard to ensure that pep rallies, football games and all athletic events will be engaging and fun,” he said. “I want to make sure that all athletic events at Pali are inclusive… I want every student at Pali to feel excited about attending sporting events, and make up for lost time due to COVID.”

Max Rodman, Treasurer

Junior Max Rodman said that his interest in economics encouraged him to run for ASB Treasurer. His experience at Pali includes involvement in the budget and finance committee as a junior class representative. 

He said his main goals as treasurer are to “offer funding for extracurriculars, improve educational programs, and create new events.” He also stated that he seeks to increase the school’s career development programs, such as the Work Experience Program.

Jada Asgar, Vice President

Jada Asgar, current ASB Treasurer and former Sophomore Class President, will take over senior Selene Lam’s spot as ASB Vice President. Asgar’s career in student government extends all the way back to elementary school, where she served as treasurer. Now appointed Pali’s second highest ASB position, she has set a goal to make student groups more united and increase communication on campus. 

Like many of the other ASB members, Asgar said her main focus is to make the transition from online learning to in-person learning as smooth as possible. To ensure student concerns are met, Asgar and her peers are planning to create a student concern form next year to get feedback and discuss problems with the administration.

Brynn Green, Junior Class President

Brynn Green, who was elected Junior Class President, said she plans to address the incoming stress of junior year. 

Green said she aims to utilize bulletin boards around campus to post dates for standardized tests so students can plan accordingly. She also hopes to organize new social events such as barbecues and beach days for the Class of 2022 to make up for lost time. 

However, Green said her main objective is to amplify the voices of students who feel unheard.

“As a member of a minority at Pali myself, I know how you can feel voiceless at times,” Green said. “To prevent this in my class, I will make sure my promises are kept by making the admin aware of challenges for all students.” 

Tiana Nikkhoo, Senior Class President

Tiana Nikkhoo, a current Junior Class Representative, was elected Senior Class President. In this position, Nikkhoo said she wants to ensure that the incoming senior year will be “as best as it can be and students will be able to suggest their own social events if they wish.” 

Nikkhoo reported that she communicated with current Senior Class President Michael Brent IV to confirm her promises were realistic. Some ideas she hopes to host include a drive-in movie night on campus, a senior sunrise on the beach and a Class of 2022 time capsule.

Talia Davood, Commissioner of Student Involvement

Lastly, as the Commissioner of Student Involvement, Talia Davood said she wants to be the student voice on the Academic Accountability Committee. 

Davood plans to hold monthly student concern meetings for any students who want to personally voice a problem they have with Pali, similar to the Zooms hosted by ASB in the past months. She said she aims to make the first on-campus experience for the current and next freshman class as welcoming as possible. 

Davood added that she would like to create an open environment for students where they can come forward with their concerns. 

“I always hear when students are having a difficult time,” she said, “but it can be a struggle for some when it comes to taking a step towards actually making a concern.”