Seconds after the lunch bell rings, students flood the halls. With the school year now in full swing, many of them are headed to club meetings. From activism to speech and debate, the number of choices can be overwhelming. While students should be able to express and practice their passions, the question has to be asked: are there too many clubs at WCHS?

Each passing year at WCHS has marked a large increase in clubs. In six short years, the number has nearly doubled, with 180 clubs listed for the 2022-23 school year. With no end in sight to this trend, it has become increasingly clear that something needs to change. 

The recent teacher shortage has made it even more difficult than before for clubs to find sponsors. Each teacher is only able to sponsor up to three clubs and those clubs end up competing for the classroom space. Additionally, many teachers have office hours during lunch, making it harder for clubs to have meetings in their rooms. 

It is no secret that getting into the college of one’s choice is often what motivates students at WCHS to found clubs. This has led to some clubs being created for the primary purpose of having an extracurricular activity to list on college applications, and not to actually explore the passions of students. These clubs are created, only to meet once and fizzle out soon after. Clubs are meant to reflect the interests and passions of students, not to fill a résumé. 

The argument that there should be no limit on student creativity is certainly a valid one. Students should be free to express themselves and share their passions with others. With that being said, it is unreasonable to argue that WCHS should have an unlimited number of clubs. A large number of the current clubs are inactive and there are multiple clubs that serve the same purpose. For a club to exist at WCHS, it should be active, unique and at least moderately popular. 

Ultimately, action needs to be taken when it comes to the number of clubs present at WCHS. Stricter regulations during the club application process could potentially combat this issue. Having a minimum number of members and requiring that clubs meet for a certain number of times per year could go a long way. This along with stronger requirements to renew clubs for previous years could work to ensure that the clubs are active and legitimate.