PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School IPLE Class of 2023 hosted their highly anticipated annual debates beginning on Tuesday, April 25.
This year’s candidates from the Matrix party (the liberal side) and the Munch party (the conservative side) debated relevant local and federal issues. The topics that the candidates debated include rescinding all financial support from Ukraine, prohibiting homeschooling in New Jersey, increasing the U.S. nuclear arsenal, banning smartphones on Parsippany school campuses, banning capital punishment, banning mandatory pledge of allegiance, mandating the sale of electric cars, and prohibiting transgender athletes in New Jersey schools.
The PHHS Seniors, who were part of these parties, had been working hard for months preparing for the series of debates and campaigning in school classrooms. Leading up to the event, the school’s walls were filled with propaganda from each side, attempting to persuade students and staff to vote. The hour-long debates were held twice daily from Tuesday through Friday of last week in the auditorium. Each debate was packed with hundreds of students eager to watch the candidates politically battle each other. After each candidate delivered their speech, the crowd could fire questions at both sides. Many of the audience members attempted to challenge and stump the speakers.
Some of the highlights of the debates included when candidate Vincent Paglucci asked the audience to stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance and when multiple members of the Munch party brought ‘munchkins on stage and ate them.
The advisor, and the teacher who runs this special program, Adam Pavese, shared what he thought of this year’s debates, “Ms. Hestevold and I were very impressed with the debates this year. The general student body only sees the debates, which is the highlight of the election, but I enjoy the work behind the scenes the most. The class takes countless work hours to pull off the debates and elections. We look forward to next year and hope they go as smoothly as this year.“
Elections took place a few days ago, and the entire student body cast their ballots. Just recently, on May 3, the outcome of the elections was announced in the morning. Here are the winning candidates, the position they ran for, their stance, and their party:
Isabella Brison for President: Rescinding all Financial Support From Ukraine- Matrix party
Christopher Stearns Senate: Against Federal Ban on Capital Punishment- Munch party
Hunter Tam Nguyen House of Reps.- Against Increasing U.S Nuclear Arsenal-Matrix party
Tyler Lutkowski- Governor- Against Mandate on Electric Cars- Munch party
Rebecca Steere- State Senate- Allowing Homeschooling in NJ- Munch party
Alex Hockwitt- State assembly- Prohibiting Transgender Athletes From Competing in Preferred Gender- Munch party
Vincent Paglucci- County commissioner- Anti Banning Pledge In Schools- Munch party
Ridhi Rohatagi- Board of Education- Keep Smartphones in PTHSD Schools- Matrix party
Overall, this year’s debates were definitely memorable, and the students are already looking forward to the next debates. Congratulations to all the candidates who won and to both parties!
