For many SHS students, clubs are just another addition to their college resume. In recent years, with increasing college pressure, the administration has noticed that more and more students have been trying to join as many clubs as possible, often, without making meaningful contributions to any. Students feel club meetings have transformed from interactive, meaningful gatherings, to mundane sessions where, most of the time, students go to chat with friends or grab a snack.

This year, the School Government collaborated with Principal Bonamo to change the school’s club system. Collectively, they decided that missionless clubs that serve no real purpose or lack sufficient members shouldn’t be allowed to continue operating.

This year, by springtime, the number of clubs at Scarsdale will be far fewer. The School Government will be using the fall semester to review all existing clubs and make sure clubs pass the new regulations, which were given to club officers at the October 9th all-club meeting. Expectations include a weekly meeting time, club activities, an officer succession plan, financial records if applicable, and, most importantly, a goal.

“If a club meets without any goal or purpose, it should not have the right to exist as a club in our school,” underclassman representative Gabe Green ’26 said. “It’s all about having a goal! The club has to have a reason to exist in order to be valid.”

Many regular SHS students also feel similarly. “I think a club having a goal is one of the most important things!” Caitlin Lammer ‘27 exclaimed. “In all the clubs I’m in, I feel like there is an important reason to be there. There is no point in going if you’re just going to sit there.”

The School Government is also encouraging clubs to get the entire school involved, offering greater opportunities for fifth period bake and pizza sales. This year, they created a special “Bake Sale/Fundraiser Calendar,” where clubs can sign up in order to avoid conflicts with other clubs selling at the same time.

Post review, if clubs fail to meet the provided criteria, they will be provided with an opportunity to improve and meet the provided standards. If they refuse to, or fail to do so, the club will be dissolved. The School Government has not put any plan in action to make sure their standards are upheld following the approval of clubs, but they will likely “keep a lookout, and make sure clubs keep following regulations,” explained Green.

Additionally, this year School Government is trying to tackle the issue of finding a common club meeting time. Many students have conflicting activities after school which prevent them from participating in clubs. This year, the all-club meeting acted as a test run for a universal club meeting time.

School Government advisor and SHS English teacher Ben Sawyer stated that he is “very much in favor of a common meeting time,” and that “there are a couple ideas in the works that will allow for a universal club meeting time, so that all kids are able to participate whether they play a sport, or have something else that pulls them away after school.”

Although both Green and Sawyer expressed that Wednesday morning may not be a perfect solution, as it is hard to uproot SHS’s entire schedule, they were both confident that the School Government would be able to come to a solution, as the entire School Government unanimously agrees a universal club meeting time is beneficial to our school.

Students such as Llamer believe that there should be a universal club meeting time, but there should be a better form of organization that doesn’t force students to choose between clubs. “On the Wednesday test run, I had to choose between all the clubs that I’m a part of, which was difficult, as I want to stay an active member of several clubs. I do think we need a universal club time, just a more organized and laid out version of the morning test run,” Lammer explained.

As the year goes on, students will have to see to what standard the school government fulfills their dictum. Hopefully, these progressions will allow for a more involved and inclusive club environment at SHS.