“Record breaking.” That is how CHS librarian and organizer of Club Fair, Jeri Schneider, described the event. With a total of 42 clubs participating, many of which were completely new, students were given more options than ever before. Whether they wanted to join Blanket Club, Utopian Socialist Club, or the Society of Speed Walkers, their choices seemed endless.
During lunch on Friday, September 13, students were finally able to see all the clubs in one place. The front lawn was a frenzy of sign-up sheets, poster boards and free candy. Club leaders advertised their plans for the coming school year and encouraged anyone and everyone to sign up for their clubs. For many of these club leaders, the effort was incredibly important.
For Quinn Hanner-Zawacki, leader of the new Disability Awareness and Support Club, this was especially the case. After noticing that there wasn’t an existing group for students with disabilities, they decided it was up to them to create it.
“There’s a QSA, a BSU, and other minority groups, so I figured I might as well create one for the minority that I am in,” Hanner-Zawacki said. “I have Crohn’s disease and arthritis, and I know at least a handful of other students that have these issues as well.”
Hanner-Zawacki’s goal was to create a safe space for students to talk and learn more about disabilities, whether that be with movies, bringing in speakers from the University of Michigan, or working with Forum Council to improve accessibility around the building.
Similarly, for Vara James, leader of the new Blanket Club, it all started with an observation.
“I was sitting in my English class, and I was really cold,” James said. “As silly as it sounds, I was like, ‘You know what? We should start a Blanket Club and put blankets around the school’.”
But more than just fighting the cold, James’ goal was to give back to the community. Whether the club is making or collecting blankets, they plan to donate them to local hospitals and homeless shelters, getting students together not just for a fun activity but also for doing good.
And these clubs are just a fraction of the ever growing list: Disability Awareness & Support Club, Blanket Club, Climbing Club, Black Student Union, Dance Body and many more.
“We truly have something for everyone,” Schneider said. “It’s so cool to see that we have this many students wanting to connect with one another and find common interests. Whether it’s playing games together, working towards a certain cause, or just talking, it’s really great to see.”
In the years to come, the hope is that Club Fair will only continue to grow, that more and more students will get involved, and that the record can be broken yet again.
