Useless Clubs: A Growing Epidemic

Sai Karnati '20

At University School, we enjoy a vast number of school clubs. Whether you’re interested in a specific subject, culture, sport, or hobby, there is most likely a club that encompasses your passions. Our school encourages students to advance their interests by letting them create their own clubs. Students have capitalized on this opportunity and, as a result, clubs have become more diverse. However, more often than not, students create clubs that either never takeoff or rarely meet. These “one-and-done” clubs are now more prevalent and a serious problem plaguing our extracurricular life.

Clubs are so enjoyable because we can do things we enjoy during their meetings. When clubs never meet, this enjoyment withers. What is the purpose of creating clubs that do nothing if all it does is create false hopes for students?

“I just hate how there are some really cool ideas for clubs, but they’re never expanded on,” Junior Jack Miranda emphasized. “Sometimes I wish that I could lead the clubs or at least try to get them running.”

While most pioneers of these groups won’t say it outright, one reason for starting these types of clubs is obvious: the college application. Founding a club for the sake of your application might seem impressive to colleges, but should be heavily frowned upon in our community. A student is looking at his own interests first when creating these types of clubs at the expense of his peers, who probably would have enjoyed the club otherwise. If we ever want to fix the broken system, we must attack this reason for creating useless clubs.

Before I propose a solution, we should evaluate the current system for creating clubs. First, a student needs to talk to a teacher who would be interested in sponsoring the group. Second, a student then must talk to Dr. Daughtery who either approves or vetoes the club idea. If approved, the student can schedule an assembly announcement and be done with the process. The major problem with this system is the lack of accountability. You do not need any proof or evidence that you are willing or able to manage a club. Although the teacher sponsor is meant to keep you responsible, most of the time teachers are occupied with their already busy schedules. At the end of the day, it is the student’s responsibility to lead the club.

The solution I propose is a more accountable vetting process for clubs. When you have an idea for a club, you will need to plan out your meetings before you make it. Making sure students provide proof that they are willing to undertake the struggles of managing a club goes a long way in keeping clubs more active. Moreover, after a club’s initial meetings, the school should monitor its activity and progress.

Although some would say that this new system would deter people from bringing up club ideas, I would argue that now students have the certainty that the clubs they are interested in will serve them. Further, this process would only deter the uncommitted students from creating clubs, allowing more dedicated students to shine. Clubs are something to cherish, so we should make the best of them.