For many students at SHS, there are current events they are passionate about, but they do not have the setting to discuss them with others. The Hot Topics Initiative was suggested by the SHS School Government to create a space for this exact purpose.
The Hot Topics Committee first ran an experimental session of the initiative during Non-Sibi Day 2025. With the intention of creating a shared space for SHS students to listen to each other and use their voices to discuss timely current events, faculty advisors Kami Wright and David Sherrin aim to make the Hot Topics Initiative a permanent event. In contrast with the classroom environment where students are expected to engage in discussions of topics following the curriculum, the initiative opens the floor for students to talk about the issues they care about.
The goal of the initiative is not for students to “win” debates, but to immerse themselves in a fun, engaging, and friendly space for discussion. All students are welcome to observe, listen, and speak during the meeting. “The Hot Topics Committee hopes to encourage students to converse and foster communication,” Sherrin shared.
One of the major challenges for the advisors of the committee is choosing a topic for discussion. Announcing topics in advance makes it difficult to ensure that the topics are timely and relevant. The advisors hope to encourage students to get involved with topic selection, ensuring that the discussions are based on topics of genuine interest for students.
The committee finds themselves in a unique position trying to establish themselves permanently. “We are trying to figure out what not being a club would look like,” Wright explained. Although they are not a club, they aim to position themselves as a recurring resource available to students at SHS, navigating a unique path in the process.
Despite the challenges, the first meeting was a success, especially for such a new initiative. Students from different grades were present and engaged in thoughtful conversations that represented the diverse interests of the student body. All participants showed mutual respect to each other and were responsive as active listeners.
The Hot Topics Committee is planning to hold their next meeting on Friday 12/12 during lunch in room 3N4. The Committee will be discussing the question: Did the U.S. commit a war crime in the Caribbean regarding Venezuelan boat strikes? They are looking forward to seeing new and old faces at this upcoming meeting and no prior knowledge of the topic is required.
