Dodgeball, Marine Conservation, and Food Blogging Club are just a few of the surging number of clubs at Piedmont High School. In just a year, 19 clubs have been added, bringing the total from 48 to 67.
Many students are excited about the growing opportunities, while others express concern that the rise in the number of clubs has led to overwhelming choices and decreased participation.
“[The involvement is] different than last year where there were rooms full of people,” junior Quincy Antaya said.
ASB faculty advisor Hayley Adams said the increase in clubs has put a strain on faculty resources.
“Of 67 clubs that we have chartered, there’s only 22 teachers represented,” Adams said.
Some teachers, such as Melanie McCauley, Mercedes Foster, and Andy Willats, are each advising three clubs.
Some students are concerned that with the greater number of clubs, student involvement may become more scattered.
“I feel like the increase in clubs has led to smaller participation in every club,” Antaya said.
Birding Club president s
enior Payton Cole said there has been lower participation in her club.
“[Attendance has] decreased a bit,” Cole said.
However, not all students are noticing a decline in involvement.
“We actually have more participants than we did last year,” said Key Club president senior Sabrina Olliphant.
Olliphant said she views the abundance of clubs as an opportunity to explore new things.
“I actually find it really cool just seeing what everyone else is up to,” Olliphant said.
The growing number of clubs has also raised concerns about overlapping goals. This year’s offerings include five environmental clubs, three outdoor clubs, and three art clubs.
“[Clubs may] have different missions or purposes, but they are so similar to each other that they’re struggling to get sustainability,” Adams said.
This has led to a competitive atmosphere among clubs, Adams said, which can affect their overall success.
“I think there are a lot of inactive clubs or clubs that only meet a few times a year, and maybe ASB could help limit that so there are no inactive clubs,” said Olliphant.
In response to these concerns, ASB is now enforcing club requirements more strictly. Clubs must hold meetings in their advisor’s room, follow their meeting schedule, and communicate cancellations. Additionally, club secretaries are required to log the minutes, topics, and attendance of every meeting. These logs, called Club Meeting Minutes, help ASB track activity levels. Random drop-ins by ASB representatives are also used to ensure clubs are active.
“If [clubs] can’t abide by these standards, yes, we will shut them down as a club,” said Adams.
Another Club Day was held on Oct. 18 to accommodate all clubs and increase student involvement because there weren’t enough tables for every club during the first Club Day in September.
“I think that [the second Club Day] was successful,” Adams said.
