Is Student Council just a popularity contest.

One of many. Just wait until you graduate. No one will care if you were on student council, the football team, or even popular, because the rules change... for the better.

Most definitely. My sister ran for Historian her eighth grade year. They were required to make videos as part of their election and they could have ANYONE help them. We went all out and used a pretty good video editing software. We filmed some outside the middle school, and my house, and green screened in effects. Our scenario was that the middle school was invaded by 1980's zombies who could dance the "Thriller" dance, and that my sister could time travel and take pictures (which is why she would be good as historian.) We edited her into pictures of "Titanic," "Twilight" (She was going to put a dagger in Edward...that's probably what lost her votes! haha), and more and she gave an emotional speech of how she was THERE at those events ("Even when Jack sank and didn't bob back up...I was THERE!", and how if people didn't vote for her, the zombie middle school invasion of 1987 would happen again in 2011. It sounds a little cheesy, but the video was pretty awesome. My boyfriend dressed up in a black suit and stood behind her pretending to be a body guard while she gave her campaign speech.

Anyways, the students loved the video, thought it was hilarious, but still voted the popular girl in who had the most simple video ever. Oh well.

There are so many qualified people that aren't elected because they aren't popular enough. Don't worry though, student council doesn't do that much anyway.

Because if I remember correctly, that kind of stuff is chosen by the students, and kids don't really think about what is good for their school, but rather that they feel "cool" by voting for the popular kid that they all worship, which is ridiculous.

...she can probably spell "fair". Just kidding. Yes, it's about popularity, but don't let it get you down. In a few years, it'll mean nothing to you.

That's the way it was when I was in school in the 70's, and probably when my folks were in the 40's.

not if run properly

Yes, it is a huge popularity contest ...

Thank you. I know it is because as one of the smart kids who usually doesnt run for thosem things I've found that its mainly based off of popularity rather then who is better.