Leadership Students Organize Virtual Club Rush

By Wendy Chen, Leila Ghuloum, Isabel Hall, Caitlin Watt

To encourage students’ continued engagement in clubs during remote learning, Albany High School’s student leadership organized an online version of the annual Club Rush from October 5 to October 9. Unfortunately, the new format caused a decrease in sign ups for some clubs.

In previous years many students enjoyed the high-energy atmosphere of Club Rush, an event that happens during the first few weeks of school. Clubs set up tables with signs and free food, and students had the chance to walk around, sign up for a wide variety of groups, and meet new people.

During the 2019 Club Rush, students were able to explore numerous clubs at the front of the school, enjoy free food, and sign up for club activities. Photos by Wendy Chen.

This year, due to remote learning, students read about different clubs on a Google document and signed up via Google form. Club leaders saw fewer sign-ups this year than in the past.

According to junior Jared Nakahara, president of the Asian Students Union, “Remote learning has cut down approximately 50 percent of the sign ups we would usually get from normal Club Rush.”

Junior Emma Li, president of Photography Club, agreed, “Remote learning has definitely decreased the number of students who signed up for our club.”

Senior Zoe Ou, vice president of the Albany Student Board, discussed one reason for this decline in sign-ups.

“Publicity opportunities are obviously not quite the same without being at campus,” Ou said.“This year, it's been hard to integrate that ‘hype’ factor that would draw many students.”

Another challenge club leaders face is finding activities that can happen in an online format.

“Over Zoom, it's easiest to create presentations and have discussions on them, so for now, that's our plan,” said senior Hannah Jaffe, president of Feminist Club.

Many club leaders are also planning to focus on community building during this isolating time.

Senior Sophia Del Priore, Albany Student Board Secretary/Treasurer and co-president of BuildOn, said, “club leaders are being more deliberate with adding times during meetings just for community building and fun, like playing an online game.”

Ou expressed how students previously involved in clubs have been eager to continue their meetings over Zoom.

“There are still multiple clubs of various "categories," including the arts and sciences, social justice, and identity, so I would say that club variety is still present this year,” Ou said.

“In general, I feel that returning students, who have already experienced clubs in person, are very motivated to continue clubs because they provide an opportunity to socialize with fellow students during this particularly isolating time.”

Ou also mentioned that club leaders are trying different ways to let more students receive information about clubs.

“Some of the ways we've done that include asking IHS teachers to set aside time for freshmen to browse through the clubs, sending school-wide emails about it, and asking the class presidents to communicate regarding Club Rush to their class specifically,” Ou said. Obviously, without the school atmosphere, we can't reach everybody, but this is how we hope to keep clubs active during remote learning.”

“This year is going to require a lot of creativity and persistence from both club leaders and members,” Del Priore said, “but I think everyone is up to the task and wants to make sure the strong role clubs play in student life continues.”