On Friday, October 27th, 2023 SHS students enjoyed a special treat. Instead of a typical Friday morning, students had the opportunity to attend club meetings between 8:00 and 8:35 AM, during what is usually the first period. The first of its kind, the Universal Club Meeting allowed students to hold and attend special club meetings, plan for future events, and reflect on the first quarter. Taking place right after the club fair, this event also provided an opportunity for clubs to welcome new members.
The Universal Club Fair was a Student Government-sponsored event piloting the concept of having dedicated time for all students to attend clubs during the school day. The idea of an all-club meeting time stemmed from the pandemic. During COVID-19, house meetings were held at a dedicated time when no students were committed to classes, which allowed Student Government members to attend these meetings. Inspired by this former practice, the Student Government sought to create a similar “opportunity to be with other club members and to be productive or to hang with each other and reap the social benefits of being part of a club,” Student Government advisor Lauren Barton explained.
Clubs were given no restrictions on the type of meetings they could hold; some clubs carried on with usual meetings, while others held fun activities for their members to enjoy. Most clubs took advantage of the extended time to plan an event, which would not have been possible during a shorter, regular club meeting. Many clubs also provided munchkins and other snacks to energize their tired members.
There were mixed opinions about the success of the event. In terms of attendance, forty-five clubs participated in the Universal Club Meeting. Several clubs and their members enjoyed this event as it differed from anything done prior. To many students, a con to the event was its time as many students chose to sleep in rather than attend a club meeting. Tired members also made it challenging to create the same positive environment that clubs find in their routine meetings. Moreover, some clubs found it difficult to plan and organize meetings with their officers since all club meetings took place simultaneously, and many students are part of several clubs. The opportunity to arrange a longer club meeting also provided some clubs with difficulty planning an activity that could keep sleepy high schoolers attentive. Yet, with anything new, there are always difficulties.
The Student Government plans to make the Universal Club Meeting an annual or even a quarterly event. They hope to promote students’ well-being through events such as these.