LilyBiggs

Clubs are an essential part of meeting new people at Marian. According to the Network’s April survey, 97% of Marian’s student body say they are active members of a club. 

Students are encouraged to join and be engaged in clubs they are interested in. However, it takes more than showing up occasionally to keep clubs running and to have some succession for future students and club members.

Club leadership requires emailing members, meeting with club moderators and encouraging club attendance.

Junior Iona Stites, who has led Fandom Club and currently leads the Democratic section of the Student Union, shares her insight on the responsibilities of a club leader. “Being a club leader consists of showing up and coordinating events with club members and the club moderator. It allows you to meet new people you wouldn’t normally get close to,” Stites said. “I would highly recommend being a part of club leadership since it is less difficult than you might think, but don’t start something you don’t intend to pass on.” 

Students are encouraged to apply for club leadership positions and to start a club if one they are interested in doesn’t currently exist. 

All club organization and events are overseen by Dean of Students Kris Hennings. She is in charge of sponsors and the formation of clubs as well as controlling the activities that they do.

Running a club can prove to be difficult at times. People often start with a lot of passion and energy at the beginning of the year only to be run down as homework and other sources of stress become a priority. 

This is why some clubs can become less active than others. “It’s not always so cut and dry when determining what is and isn’t exactly a club,” Hennings said. “COVID caused kids to lose the ability to lead clubs. It put a lot on the teachers rather than the students.”

Clubs were not allowed to have food or close contact with other members at meetings, which resulted in club interest waning and some clubs dying out.

According to Hennings, Marian was not the only school that suffered with this issue. Other Catholic schools like Duchesne, Mercy, and Roncalli experienced similar conflict when it came to maintaining the strength clubs once had. 

Now that COVID is not as mainstream, the vaccine has been developed, and masks do not create the barrier between potential friendships that was once there in 2020, clubs have bounced back in a big way.

“We’re doing more than we ever have when it comes to clubs,” Hennings said.

Clubs help Marian’s community grow and flourish through creating new relationships and experiences for upper and underclassmen alike. 

Leading and starting a club can prove to be valuable as students grow into young women. If you are interested in this opportunity, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Hennings to start a club.

What is a club you wish Marian had? Leave a comment below!