What's To Blame For Low Student Club Membership?
By Cameron Butler
Editor-in-Chief
Finding enough participating members is a struggle for HWC’s student organizations and clubs, with club presidents saying the matter is affecting them negatively.
The Black Student Union saw less than ten students involved in an average club meeting this Fall semester, according to the club’s leadership. Almost all meetings were held virtually via Zoom.
The Student Government Association saw its own internal drop in participation with the student president and vice president resigning this semester, as previously reported by The Herald.
Some student club presidents weighed in on how this low student engagement is affecting their operations.
“There's low engagement from the club members and then there's also the struggle of low engagement from your team, or worse, sabotaging behavior. It can put a lot of pressure on me to be everywhere at once and in every position at once. Low student involvement also runs the risk of making it impossible to do something like manage a club. If there aren't enough people to fill roles or sign up, then a club can't exist and that's another piece of community lost,” said STEM Club President Jillian Johnson. “Low engagement makes things awkward and tough as a leader, but I get it. I'm sure there are a few classes I have where my engagement would be deemed low. I see the challenge of low engagement as an opportunity for me to reinvent the community I'm helping to build.”
Low student club memberships came as HWC saw record-low enrollment rates this semester, as previously reported by The Herald.
“For a club like Pride Alliance, low student involvement can be a blessing and a curse. Having smaller meetings leads to a higher level of vulnerability from the group and allows us more time to get to know each other personally, which can be nice for students who need a space to share about what they're going through,” said Pride Alliance President Payton Carlson. “Low student involvement prevents us from being able to put on more elaborate events for the student body, which limits the impact student orgs can have. The more people who get involved, the bigger impact we can make on the school and community, but I understand why so many students are having a hard time right now. I'm grateful for the students who commit to showing up every week, and those of us involved in student leadership will continue to try to provide spaces for students to engage with other students.”
Director of Student Activities Aja Humphreys encouraged active involvement in clubs by attending club meetings and events, as well as responding to communication from club leaders.
“Students might have other priorities or obligations that prevent them from engaging in student clubs. Students might feel disconnected from the college community. Since most clubs are active only remotely this semester, students might find it a bit awkward to interact on internet platforms like Zoom,” said Humphreys, when asked why students might not be as engaged with clubs this semester.
“It’s possible that low student involvement in clubs or events could lower the morale of club leaders. Luckily, HWC has dedicated student leaders who want to see their clubs thrive, even with little or no participation from the general student body. Some clubs within the pandemic have kept their club running no matter the odds,” said Humphreys.
Concerns about clubs shutting down due to inactivity were also addressed by the student activities director.
“There’s not a concern that clubs will shut down. SGA and myself constantly receive emails from students inquiring about joining clubs or even reviving clubs that became inactive within the pandemic,” said Humphreys.
When asked earlier this semester what students might need to better succeed in school, 19-year-old student Anais Rodriguez said, “I feel every student should have […] mental health services, and mental health should be taken into consideration as every school system should have a system for their students, to have something as a support for their mental health.”
HWC’s Wellness Center is available both virtually and in-person for students in need of mental health support.
“I would encourage students to first be realistic with what they can and cannot do for their clubs/organizations. I would remind them that being in a club means that they are part of a team where tasks should be shared amongst members. This is important so that not one person should feel burdened with majority of the work. I believe that joining a club is easier now more than ever. Because most clubs operate virtually, students can join meetings and events on Zoom from the comfort of their home on their laptops or using the Zoom app on their phones while running an errand, for example,” said Humphreys.
According to Humphreys, students can sign up for club information here: https://forms.office.com/r/u8wBxsaeaW
