by Patrick Millican ‘15
The new policy on Thursday meetings this year has led to unintended consequences, pitting the Christian Action Team against student organizations now unable to meet before 3:30pm on Thursdays.
The explanation for the clash lies in the new policy instituted at the beginning of this school year by Principal Bradesca which allots the time between the end of school and 3:30 on Thursdays to CAT meetings and forbids any other club from meeting until after 3:30.
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“[Our goal is] to encourage kids who have expressed an interest in getting involved in CAT an opportunity to do so,” Bradesca said.
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“[Our goal is] to encourage kids who have expressed an interest in getting involved in CAT an opportunity to do so,” Bradesca said.
The policy was the brainchild of Mr. Skerl, who proposed it to the principal during routine meetings over the summer. After contemplating the proposal, Principal Bradesca decided to experimentally implement the rule in the 2013-’14 school year.
Initially, Bradesca said, there was mild backlash from certain faculty members, but after a few weeks under the new policy, most moderators realized that, given stragglers and pre-meeting banter, their meetings usually got underway by about 3:20 or 3:30 anyways, and they accomplished almost as much by 3:40 or 3:50 as they did prior to the rule.
The effect of the policy has primarily been an increase in student attendance at CAT meetings. According to Mr. Skerl, the club’s moderator, weekly turnout has been up significantly since the institution of the new rule.
Although student leaders for other clubs have expressed reservations about the policy, increased attendance bodes well for its future, and judging by the reactions it’s received from the faculty, it’s probably here to stay.
