Virtual elections?: CCHS clubs are navigating how to deal with the punches from COVID-19

BY ALYSSA KHAN

Schools around the world have been affected by COVID-19. The road to figuring out how to get back to some sort of normalcy for the 2020-2021 school year has been rough, but alternate options are being explored to ensure that education can continue. In addition to learning, extracurriculars are also a very important part of school and, at CCHS, clubs play a large role in the involvement of students. 

As schools are beginning this year virtually, clubs have to figure out ways to function virtually. Graduating seniors who held presidential positions in clubs this past year had to figure out different ways of choosing the incoming presidents for the 2020-2021 school year. 

Multicultural Club decided to have potential officers send in videos where they answered different questions specific to the role they applied for. Prospective applicants had to answer some problem-solving questions, instead of participating in the interview that is usually held during normal circumstances. The former presidents of the club– Amanda Arocha and Jessica Cheung– came up with this idea to elect just the right people to carry on the club. 

“This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult to pick officers for the 2020-2021 school year. After discussing and hearing from Principal Doll, Jessica and I decided that we would still have a written officer application. Instead of an interview, we would have incoming applicants send in a short video as to why they would like to be an officer,” Arocha said. “This process worked out well for us and we were able to decide the officer board with help from our incoming president. While interviews would have been ideal, this was the best case scenario that we chose.”

“This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult to pick officers for the 2020-2021 school year.”

Former president of Multicultural Club Amanda Arocha

Incoming senior Lauren Dupoux was elected as the new president of Multicultural Club. 

“Becoming a president virtually was definitely a different process, but I think it was good that the past presidents were able to find a way around the predicament we are in,” Dupoux said. “With this situation and becoming a club president, I now also have to deal with the problem of planning our events for the year around social distancing guidelines, along with even switching some activities to fully virtual.”

Best Buddies also had to figure out the best way to hold elections for their club. Former president Danel Le Roux selected incoming senior Natalie Smith as the new president before school ended. Smith is now deciding how to elect people to be a part of her officer board and continue her club next year. 

“Luckily, I was elected president before we left school in March, so we were able to do in-person interviews. However, we are still facing some challenges such as making our summer events online, electing officers virtually and planning for our club events this year,” Smith said. “Given that these safety guidelines are new to all of us, we are prepared to work together to continue meeting virtually as a club and hopefully in person soon.”

A few clubs, such as Interact Club, Environmental Club and Blessings in a Backpack, held their elections before school ended. Other clubs are still evaluating the situation to make the best decision for the club to succeed in the upcoming school year. 

Photo by The Lariat Photography