Conflicting Clubs Rush to Students Late into the School Year
Clubs this year have meetings ranging from games to helping the community, and differences in beliefs.
By Em Sandis
Clubs this year have meetings ranging from games to helping the community, and differences in beliefs.
By Em Sandis
Campus clubs have always been the heart and soul of Pioneer, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been lacking the status they had once held within the students. In the past couple of years, Club Rush has found itself consecutively arriving late to students, causing a lack of involvement for clubs in general.
Club Rush was held on Oct. 24, returning to the first semester after its later launch last year, during lunch and had far more clubs and attendees than in past years. The quad was filled with the most diverse clubs the campus has seen in years. From specific activity based clubs like Book Club and Baking Club, to more real world change clubs like Key Club and Red Cross club to clubs for specific social groups like SAGA and the Conservative Club, there is something for anyone on campus.
The delay to this year’s Club Rush has not stopped leaders from wanting to get their clubs out to the school’s students such as Baking Club’s co-president, Lydia Thomas, 11,
“On one side, it gave Matt Coelho and I more time to create what we wanted to see in the club and make sure we had a great display at Club Rush,” said Thomas. “On the other hand, having a late Club Rush gives us less time to create our community of bakers, especially since we only have time for three or four meetings before Winter Break.”
Clubs on campus are able to provide students with the opportunity to connect with their peers in a way outside of learning in the classroom, and even allowing them to step out of their comfort zone.
“Well that’s the best thing about board games is that you get to hang out with friends talk with friends it's a fun environment for people to grow themselves, and people who are maybe more shy they can play games that are more one-on-one, and if they want to branch out they with more player games, but there i the element of community, and sharing,” said math teacher and Board Game Club advisor, Derek Clawson.
Especially with activity based clubs, the idea of pursuing certain hobbies or interests is a common reason people take interest in campus clubs.
“I think that the opportunity of joining a club that focuses on literature is a great thing to have on our campus, and that hopefully it encourages more people to look into books they would otherwise not have considered reading,” said Book Club’s vice president, Maya Ortiz, 11.
With an increase in social diversity also comes the downsides of growing animosity towards specific clubs, especially on hot-button political issues. Ally Hoang, SAGA club president, 12, worries for the future of the school, and alleges that members of her club were harassed and pelted with candy.
“As seen at Club Rush, one of my biggest concerns is the increasingly hostile attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community, while it is becoming harsher in the school environment,” said Hoang.
U.S. History teacher and conservative club advisor, Peter Glasser, feels hope that clubs on campus will respect each other despite natural differences in viewpoints.
“I think anytime people are being thoughtful and welcoming in creating conversations about what they believe it can only bring a community together. And I think depending on what they want to do they’ll actually have a certain direct impact democratically,” Glasser said. “I think anytime you have an open and welcoming and logical conversation it can only help others understand and bring us together. And I think a club like this does a lot for the community.”
Clubs are not only for helping the students on campus but are also meant to support the local area through drives and fundraisers.
“Our Baking Club is planning to have once-per-semester bake sales in which all the proceeds go to local charities. Being a baking club, we want to give back to the community in our own way through food,” said Thomas.
Clubs remain a core part of school unity and despite the setbacks they have faced in terms of timing and friction on campus, they still remain a place for people to come together despite their differences.
“You are loved, you are accepted for who you are. There are many people on this campus who appreciate you and support you, and if you need a place to be fully you, come join us!” said English teacher and SAGA adviser Stephanie Harvey.
Club Rush was held on Oct. 24, returning to the first semester after its later launch last year, during lunch and had far more clubs and attendees than in past years. The quad was filled with the most diverse clubs the campus has seen in years. From specific activity based clubs like Book Club and Baking Club, to more real world change clubs like Key Club and Red Cross club to clubs for specific social groups like SAGA and the Conservative Club, there is something for anyone on campus.
The delay to this year’s Club Rush has not stopped leaders from wanting to get their clubs out to the school’s students such as Baking Club’s co-president, Lydia Thomas, 11,
“On one side, it gave Matt Coelho and I more time to create what we wanted to see in the club and make sure we had a great display at Club Rush,” said Thomas. “On the other hand, having a late Club Rush gives us less time to create our community of bakers, especially since we only have time for three or four meetings before Winter Break.”
Clubs on campus are able to provide students with the opportunity to connect with their peers in a way outside of learning in the classroom, and even allowing them to step out of their comfort zone.
“Well that’s the best thing about board games is that you get to hang out with friends talk with friends it's a fun environment for people to grow themselves, and people who are maybe more shy they can play games that are more one-on-one, and if they want to branch out they with more player games, but there i the element of community, and sharing,” said math teacher and Board Game Club advisor, Derek Clawson.
Especially with activity based clubs, the idea of pursuing certain hobbies or interests is a common reason people take interest in campus clubs.
“I think that the opportunity of joining a club that focuses on literature is a great thing to have on our campus, and that hopefully it encourages more people to look into books they would otherwise not have considered reading,” said Book Club’s vice president, Maya Ortiz, 11.
With an increase in social diversity also comes the downsides of growing animosity towards specific clubs, especially on hot-button political issues. Ally Hoang, SAGA club president, 12, worries for the future of the school, and alleges that members of her club were harassed and pelted with candy.
“As seen at Club Rush, one of my biggest concerns is the increasingly hostile attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community, while it is becoming harsher in the school environment,” said Hoang.
U.S. History teacher and conservative club advisor, Peter Glasser, feels hope that clubs on campus will respect each other despite natural differences in viewpoints.
“I think anytime people are being thoughtful and welcoming in creating conversations about what they believe it can only bring a community together. And I think depending on what they want to do they’ll actually have a certain direct impact democratically,” Glasser said. “I think anytime you have an open and welcoming and logical conversation it can only help others understand and bring us together. And I think a club like this does a lot for the community.”
Clubs are not only for helping the students on campus but are also meant to support the local area through drives and fundraisers.
“Our Baking Club is planning to have once-per-semester bake sales in which all the proceeds go to local charities. Being a baking club, we want to give back to the community in our own way through food,” said Thomas.
Clubs remain a core part of school unity and despite the setbacks they have faced in terms of timing and friction on campus, they still remain a place for people to come together despite their differences.
“You are loved, you are accepted for who you are. There are many people on this campus who appreciate you and support you, and if you need a place to be fully you, come join us!” said English teacher and SAGA adviser Stephanie Harvey.