Student Y

Maya Conner, Staff Writer • October 9, 2024

Every Thursday in Room 212 at 3:30, you can hear the joyous laughter and intense debates echoing down the empty hallway. The four slams of the gavel and a roaring applause are conducted. But what is going on in Room 212? It’s not speech and debate. It’s a mock government. Junior Kiitan Adedji is the 2024-2025 President of Lafayette Student Y. She has been in Y-Club since freshman year. She describes Student Y as a club with so many different roles you can play in Government. Adedji explains why Student Y is essential: “It’s a good way for you to debate topics that could very well be real life state or world problems.”

Every year, the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association (KYYMCA) holds two conferences, one in November called the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) and another in March called the Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA). These three-day conferences are held at the Crowne Plaza in Louisville, KY. Students participate in all different types of programs, such as Bill Sponsoring, Supreme Court Justice, Media, General Assembly, Security Council, and so much more, and you can choose what program you want to do at every conference. Students prepare for KYA by creating bills for people to debate, and for KUNA, they choose a country to represent at the conference. Last year, Lafayette represented Thailand.

This year Lafayette will attend KYA from November 24-26. They will have a Bluegrass Bill created by 2-3 underclassmen and possibly a Commonwealth Bill by 2-3 upperclassmen. “I have loved being a bill sponsor, watching people debate about something I’m passionate about is always exciting,” Adedji smiles. KYA Bills can be anything from education, climate change, voting, and any local issues.

Besides preparing for these conferences, Lafayette’s Student Y also participates in other activities. They recently did a trash pick-up on the Lafayette grounds for community service. Lafayette Student Y also fundraises for these two conferences. They are selling local Old Kentucky Chocolates right now, so make sure to buy one and help support Student Y.

Overall, while it remains more anonymous than the other clubs at Lafayette, Student Y is worth checking out. There are endless opportunities and roles to suit your liking. Adedji is so glad to have joined Y-Club during her freshman year. “It has given me real experiences, fun, and friendships.”

About the Contributors

Maya Conner, Staff Writer

Maya Conner is a senior at Lafayette High School. She is a part of the School for the Creative and Performing Arts for Literary Arts. In her writing, she focuses on fashion and pop culture. Maya is a staff writer for the Lafayette Times who focuses on social media and interviews. After her senior year, she hopes to major in Communications and Media.

Nia Spice, Staff Writer

Nia Spice is a freshman, and this is her first year writing for The Lafayette Times. She has not written as a journalist before, but does write creative stories in her free time. Nia has dabbled in nature photography since she was eleven. She has been doing KYA for the last three years and enjoys debating. She also has a home out in the country, but lives in Lexington.