“Look at all of us. We are all so different and yet there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for each other,”  said Quinn Fabray in the sixth season of “Glee.” This is the feeling students get when we join a club that almost becomes like our family. Because of COVID, however, it may be awhile before we experience this feeling again.

The topic of if North clubs should be allowed to meet in person during this school year is still very much up in the air. 

Many of the clubs are small in size which means there would be a lot of room for the students to social distance during their meetings. 

“If we meet back in person, we will follow any safety guidelines that the school uses too,” Greek Club founder senior Demi Psyhogios said. “For example, we will wear safety masks and possibly hold our meetings in larger spaces like the open areas or even outside in order to social distance.”

Another way to keep students safe is having different clubs meet on different days and have set days of the week to come into the school and meet just like it would work if we were back in school. A great example of this is the sports teams that are currently practicing at school and the guidelines they follow.

“IHSA is the governing body for athletics,” Principal Ross Draper said. “We follow their guidance while following county and state health regulations.”

Since school is online this year, kids are more limited as to what they can do outside of their houses. Holding clubs back in school would not only allow students to socialize with friends, but it also gives them a break from sitting inside all day.

“Having clubs in person would be such a mental booster,” junior Adrian Songco said. “They would take off a lot of stress that e-learning is putting on us.”

Hosting clubs in person would be a great way for students to connect with each other again. 

“I love being in French Club with my friends because it continues my love of French while talking to my friends and creating new experiences together,”senior Falasha Mahadevia said.

If clubs do have to stay virtual, the clubs would be a little breath of fresh air for students during online school.

“I think if they could be held virtually it would help this school year feel more normal,” senior Emma Posont said.

Just as technology has been an issue during remote learning, it can also potentially be a problem with virtual meetings. Either the teacher or the student’s connection could go out and it would be hard to meet on zoom if everyone is having technical problems.

“One meeting Grace [a member in Northern Voices] had a bad connection, and every time she talked, it sounded like a glitching robot,” senior Danielle Stewart said.

Though some clubs, like Drama Club, have already met online, Zoom lacks the feeling of togetherness with the students and their peers. 

“Acting over Zoom is not ideal, but it was what we had and what we had to work with,” Songco said. “It didn’t feel the same as when we did it in person.”

If clubs are allowed to meet, masks will be required due to the governor’s state mandate. District 202 also has its own policy for how clubs will be allowed to meet. 

“For now, staff and any IHSA approved activity that is participating in the twenty contact days are allowed,” Draper said. “All must self-certify or temp[erature] check prior to entering and have a mask on.”

For most students’ clubs can be almost a haven from whatever is going on in their lives. The members of the club can be like a second family to them. 

“I like being in a club with my friends because it makes the whole experience so fun and you make even more memories with them,” senior Anna Issacson said.