Image From: Eric Ma. Top: As the new school year starts up, club leaders are having mixed reactions to the new club policie
Club Rush 2024 wrapped up with over 70 clubs participating, making it one of the most exciting and successful events of the year. From the cultural representation of the Vietnamese Student Association to the artistic flair of the Photography Club and the community spirit of Youth Alive, there’s something for everyone. But this year, things are changing. The Rep Council has introduced new rules that will affect how clubs operate moving forward. Every club is now required to host at least one event each quarter or risk receiving a strike, and fundraisers—like selling food—won’t count as events anymore. All events must be connected to the club’s purpose, and clubs can no longer submit events by email. These new rules aim to make sure clubs are more active and aligned with their missions throughout the year. With these changes, Club Rush 2024 marks an exciting and purposeful start to the school year. But what do club leaders think about the new rules?
The WHS VSA is dedicated to increasing Vietnamese representation and spreading awareness about both Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American culture. Through a variety of activities and games, the club celebrates the richness of Vietnamese traditions and language. The VSA officer team worked hard to prepare for Club Rush 2024. “We’re revising the VSA tri-fold, preparing red envelopes with a little surprise inside, and advertising our booth on the VSA Instagram,” said Co-President Halyn Tran. VSA has an exciting lineup of activities and events planned for the year. “We’ve got lots of fundraisers coming up: including pandan waffles, egg rolls, and banh mi,” Tran shared. “We also plan on performing a fan dance at the International Week Assembly and hope to expand VSA’s reach even further by participating in more school wide and district events.” However, the new rules set by the Rep Council have caused VSA to rethink some of their plans. Tran expressed mixed feelings about the changes. “I don’t particularly like how fundraisers such as international kitchen are no longer considered events, because VSA thrives on sharing food with the school population,” she says. “However, I understand that these changes were made with the intent of limiting the number of club activities.”
Washington’s Photography Club aims to bring together students who share a passion for photography, while also teaching essential skills like composition and editing. “As a club, it’s important to be unique. We don’t want to just be a regular photography club. We want to entice our members,” said President Param Khatri. “This year, we have a lot of plans to recruit new members, one of them being showing off our new cameras and giving members an opportunity to use them. We’re also planning to let members who don’t have their own professional camera borrow one from our advisor, so it’s easier for them to follow along and hopefully develop a passion for photography.” The Photography Club has some exciting events lined up for the year. “We’re planning an event with Washington’s Aviation Club to go plane spotting at San Francisco International Airport and capture some amazing shots of planes. We’ll also have a few outings to places like Quarry Lakes and San Francisco, though that’s still in the works,” Khatri shared. In addition, the club plans to hold a fundraiser early in the year to raise money for SD cards, so members can keep photos from the borrowed cameras. Khatri expressed positivity about the new rules from the Rep Council, saying, “The Rep Council hasn’t made any drastic changes from last year, which is nice. However, the few changes they have made are very positive. The new rules are much more organized compared to last year. For example, we now have to submit a form for doing an event rather than emailing REP directly, which is often messy and difficult to manage.”
Youth Alive is a Christian club at Washington High where members come together to pray for those facing challenges or stress. “For us, it’s not about recruiting new members,” said club officer Jason Lian. “We’re more focused on encouraging those with an open heart to Jesus to listen in or to have a prayer request fulfilled. And hey, there will be snacks and games, if that isn’t enough!” Lian also noted a challenge the club faces. “It’s hard to find students interested in joining because our name, Youth Alive, doesn’t immediately say we’re a Christian club. It’s a bit unassuming,” he said. As for upcoming events, Youth Alive’s plans are still being finalized. “Stay tuned for more information!” Lian teased. “Psst… we might be selling boba again at this year’s International Kitchen!” Lian expressed support for the new Rep Council rules, saying, “I think the new rules about having more outings and events won’t be a problem. In fact, they’ll boost engagement and make the club more enjoyable for everyone. Overall, these changes are a welcome shift.” With a focus on community, prayer, and fun, Youth Alive is looking forward to an exciting year ahead.
For the new rules set by the Rep Council this year, most club leaders have responded positively, seeing the changes as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Both Lian and Kharti expressed optimism about the adjustments. Lian believes the new rules will actually boost engagement in Youth Alive, making the club’s events more enjoyable and encouraging members to stay active. Khatri echoed similar sentiments, appreciating how the new system is more organized and easier to manage, especially with streamlined event submissions. He sees the requirement for more events as a way to keep the Photography Club active and engaging.
However, not all club leaders feel the same. Tran expressed some concerns. While she understands the intent behind the changes, she’s disappointed that fundraisers, International Kitchen, and Club Rush no longer count as events. Since VSA often uses food as a way to connect with the school community, these rules challenge one of the core aspects of their club’s activities. Tran’s apprehension highlights how the new regulations might require some clubs to rethink their traditional methods of engagement. Overall, while the new rules are generally viewed as beneficial by some, there are mixed reactions as clubs like VSA navigate how to adapt to the changes.
Eric Ma, a senior at Washington High School, has spent his entire life in the Bay Area. This is his first year working for The Hatchet, and he aspires to capture campus life through photography. He is the WHS Aviation Club's founder and president, as well as a member of the Photography Club. Eric is a student pilot and photographer with over 1500 Instagram followers. He intends to attend a flight program at a university to become a commercial pilot or to join the US Air Force to become a fighter pilot.