Marshall has an array of activities, such as sports, clubs and arts programs, which offer ample opportunities for students to get involved; however, just because these activities already exist does not mean that everybody is going to be interested in them. What if one searches for a club that covers what they are interested in, but no such club exists? This is the root of the problem; a problem that is exacerbated by the administration’s continued denial of students’ suggestions for potential new clubs.
In the past, numerous individuals have attempted to create a new club, but administrators denied their suggestions because of the large number of clubs that exist already. As of the start of this year, Marshall has 85 clubs and activities already.
I believe that there are never too many ways to get more involved at school, and the administration should not be cracking down on clubs.
Student participation in activities may increase if the administration allows suggested clubs to establish themselves. Those who could not find an activity that interests them may hear about a new club and decide to join, resulting in a higher percentage of student involvement in extracurriculars.
While there are several clubs to choose from already, that does not automatically mean that everybody will find something that interests them. If the administration continues to crack down on club numbers, then it potentially keeps people from finding new hobbies or from pursuing current ones. Nobody wants to join a club that they are not truly passionate about.
If students cannot find a club that relates to their hobbies, they may be reluctant to join a club or activity at all. Allowing interested people to form new clubs gives them the opportunity to possibly discover something new that they are passionate about.
Not to mention, our school claims to be an inclusive, open environment. Refusing to allow new clubs not only gets rid of ways for students to get involved, but it also goes against being open to new ideas and the desires of the student population. It is not accurate to believe that over 2,000 students will each find something that interests them.
There does come a point where the administration has to decide how much is too much, but under 100 clubs and activities total for a school of our size is not it. I believe that we should allow more clubs in order to encourage increased involvement in the school community, the potential to find new hobbies, and maintain the inclusive, open environment that our school claims to express.