Nica Jurlando (285)
News Editor

With the upcoming presidential election and the aftermath of the presidential debate between current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, political discourse is as heated as ever. For many people, the stakes have never been higher. 2020 saw the highest voter turnout in nearly 40 years, and 81% of city voters cast their ballot for the Democratic Nominee: current President Joe Biden. But what does political participation look like at Central?

The only current club or organization at Central that is specific to discussing political beliefs is Politics Central, run by President Sadie Batchis (284). Sadie describes the club as a “political discussion group” in which students converse and sometimes debate pressing topics related to US politics – from gun violence to current elections. Sadie says students “tend to be a little bit iffy about talking about politics,” perhaps due to being conflict-averse and worrying about openly sharing their positions on topics that may be controversial. Despite the potential worries of participants, Sadie and her cabinet work to create a welcoming environment that is open to all kinds of perspectives, stating it is “very easygoing.” She also believes the club discourse is greatly affected by how liberal Philadelphians are. The widest array of differentiating opinions arises when discussing “issues that vary within liberals and within the Democratic Party,” citing examples of gun violence and the death penalty. “The fact that we’re in a very liberal city and a very liberal school makes debates less common,” she adds.

While currently, Politics Central is Central’s only politically-focused club, the Student Socialist Coalition, which operated in 2023, was a political student organization sponsored by history department teacher Mr. Satlow. The club, per its name, was rooted in socialist ideology. Socialism is a political and economic philosophy promoting state-based ownership over privatization, as seen in the United State’s practice of capitalism. Satlow says the club’s goal was geared toward supporting socialism as opposed to critiquing capitalism. However, he also explained there are “two sides of the same coin” and that the club’s work achieves both. He stated students held meetings to discuss socialism and its inner workings, while also hosting charity fundraisers like for women’s shelters. Despite straying from the typical US citizen’s political and economic stance (capitalist), previous member Matthew Brocco (285) never felt uncomfortable or unsafe sharing his perspective.

As of this school year, the Student Socialist Coalition club has shown no sign of re-emerging at Central. Satlow explains the organization was founded and run by 283s, and there was no new cabinet designated.