ASB students are being forced to pay entry fees for the school events they set up, while being required to record a set amount of volunteer hours in order to pass the class. The new policy is a shift from last year where ASB students could enter their respective events for free.
Many schools have already required their ASB students to pay for their respective events. As part of FCMAT, ASB students have been required to pay to go into events, but before this year the manual hasn’t been followed.
It is argued that there are multiple ways for students to earn their service hours that don’t involve attending events, such as posters, setting up for pep rallies, or even setting sports games and not working them.
The requirement helps to prevent students from feeling unequal in school events which allow certain groups to get in for free. Though students too may apply for financial aid to gain access to features in school, dances and sports games don’t fall under the same category.
Mrs. Ross, the activities director, said, “It wouldn’t be fair to let in a group of ASB students for free when there’s 900 other kids who had to buy an ASB card or pay $10.”
A few ASB students have complained about the new policy as the class requires them to submit a total of 40 service hours a semester. To them, they are being forced to pay for a class with a demanding schedule. The work of ASB students has a demanding schedule that leaves many of them feeling fatigued, especially for seniors who have the combined struggle of AP classes.
Many ASB members feel the new entry fee is unjustified and would simply unmotivate other members from participating in sports events.
Caleb Ulrich (12), a member of ASB, said, “the policy isn’t justified. At least for the people who are actively working during the game. Personally I have helped out with the tech crew … and the amount of work and pressure we were under to perform for the game was immense. If they had made us pay on the day, it would have been absolutely ludicrous. Forcing us to pay for the game just to work during it–and not even being able to enjoy it–would’ve been insulting.”
A shared worry among certain ASB members is the continued participation of classmates in the class’ events. It is believed that students who have reached 40 hours of work would feel less likely to help out with sports events knowing that they would have to pay an entry fee.
The ASB class is organized with a mix of assigned events, which have a limited amount of open spots, with open events with unlimited spaces. Some students who are obligated to sign up for sports events feel they are paying to pass a class in school.
Multiple complaints have been made by students to staff, who have shared their willingness to hear students out.
When asked about students’ opinions, Mrs. Ross said, “I am always willing to answer questions to students … I’m sorry it hasn’t been followed in the past … I care about equity in terms of all students.”
