The council discussed ways to increase voter turnout for homecoming, courtwarming and Student Council elections and proposedthat the homecoming court (candidates) be comprised of nominated members of clubs. A number of council members agreed that having seniors decide on the candidates from a list of all senior boys or girls did not function well, because students chose candidates randomly due to the large pool of contenders.
Stephen Turban, representing the debate team and Young Moderates, suggested clubs send representatives based on the number of members in the club. Hickman High School’s homecoming system inspired this idea.
“I believe the system we have right now of homecoming [and] courtwarming is—I think it makes it so that we have a lack of diversity in homecoming court,” Turban said, “and really, homecoming court … should represent the entire school.”
Maria Kalaitzandonakes, representing the International Cultural Association, brought up the possibility of instituting an RBHS activities bus, for students unable to stay after school for clubs due to transportation issues, and keeping a scholarship fund for clubs that require students to pay dues. She proposed that students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch could use this fund. Clubs could also use funds from the previous year to fund activities near the beginning of a new year, so students could try out the club before paying dues.
Finally, the council discussed the disparity between the amount of attention sports receive at assemblies versus the amount of attention other clubs receive, particularly in regards to recognizing achievements and awards. Students suggested the school award variants of golden gear for non-sports clubs during assemblies as well. Bones acknowledged the difference in attention and said he tries to not have assemblies emphasize athletics as much.
Interclub Council meets before Student Council meetings. All meetings are Thursdays.
By Atreyo Ghosh
