Most clubs primarily raise money by hosting fundraisers such as pretzel sales and bake sales. Especially with larger clubs such as DECA, which have overnight trips and need to cover the cost of meals for hundreds of members, fundraisers play a major role in covering costs. DECA’s recent DoubleGood fundraiser, which sold popcorn, raised over $10,000 for its 250 members. In November, at least 16 fundraisers have been planned for after school, ranging from donut sales to fundraisers at local restaurants.

“[Fundraisers] really help with lowering the costs, especially since last year I had to pay like $3,000 total for all the competitions combined,” said Isabella Vascicin (’26), one of the fundraising leaders for DECA.

However, fundraisers may not always cover the costs of individual tournaments or events, where club members have to sign up by themselves. As a result, some clubs have members pay dues, usually once per year, depending on the range of activities and costs they cover.

For example, East’s Speech and Debate club has a one-time fee of $20 that members pay by the end of the season. Belonging to the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA), East’s Speech and Debate team competes against mostly local schools in competitions. With topics ranging from “The Arctic” to “Military Presence,” students aim to create ethical and equitable solutions to real-world problems during these competitions.

While a great activity to add to a college resume, additional costs for trips and competitions might make it challenging for some students to be able to participate in speech and debate. Although the majority of students have no problem paying the fees, there is definitely a minority that cannot. With this in mind, questions arise; specifically, is Speech and Debate equitable?

“Sometimes fundraisers don’t fully cover the extent of the club’s payment. It also never hurts to have money for the year after, so we have a safety net to cover us. I can’t speak [for] other clubs, but for speech and debate specifically, [the dues] cover things like transportation, uniforms, and food. The fees for competitions that we go to [are] pretty expensive,” said Nicholas Hyunh (‘26), treasurer of East’s Speech and Debate club.

Many clubs at East also offer financial aid or cover costs if members cannot pay dues or travel fees. Although members are encouraged to pay dues as a courtesy, they are optional for most clubs.

“If you’re unable to pay dues because of financial circumstances, just email the club advisor and they’ll totally understand,” says Hyunh. “Dues are basically a donation to support the club, since the teachers spend a lot of their after-school [hours] at the club, and put in a lot of weekends towards the club.”

By participating in local competitions that aren’t officially sponsored by NSDA, East Speech and Debate gives an opportunity to those who cannot pay to still get the chance to participate. Hopefully, NSDA will be able to take note, and follow in the footsteps of one of their chapters.

Some clubs have also found ways to reduce the costs of trips and events by splitting fees. East’s Model United Nations (MUN) changed its policy last year so that members no longer had to pay out of pocket to attend local conferences. Now, all bus and conference fees are covered by the district. While members still need to pay by themselves for multiple-day overnight conferences, the change has allowed East students to travel to their most recent local conference for free.

Overall, many clubs at East handle activity fees differently according to their specific needs. East’s activities evidently put in the effort to combat activity fees for students who may require financial assistance.

However, there is always room for improvement. This can be implemented by allocating more money to students with greater financial requirements and collectively providing a safe environment for students to communicate their needs.

Kaiyan Ling (’25), Erin Li (’25), and Madison Johnson (’25) (Muskaan Batra (’26))

Recognizing the divide among cultural heritage clubs at East and wanting to better support the needs of different backgrounds within the student population, Kaiyan Ling (’25), Erin Li (’25), and Madison Johnson (’25) founded Cherry Hill East Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative (DEII) in their sophomore year. Since then, the club has expanded and provided many different opportunities for its members to help establish a more equitable East community.

DEII’s mission is becoming increasingly more relevant as the need for respecting and supporting different backgrounds grows throughout America. Equity is based on mutual consideration so DEII is ideal for East students committed to collectively fostering a more supportive environment.

To fulfill its mission, DEII focuses on offering diverse opportunities and events related to DEI to its members. Last year, the club invited members to attend recurring club meetings dedicated to the book, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. This unique activity involved members reading chapters of the book together and having important discussions about the LGBTQ+ community.

Additional activities that the club has organized include watching Hidden Figures together, debating DEI topics, and collaborating with the CHE Jewish Student Union to host a Holocaust survivor as a guest speaker. These events have contributed to the club’s growth by offering East students many opportunities to get involved.

“We’re just trying to integrate a lot of different activities that different diverse groups can relate to but at the same time like when [people] who aren’t part of that community participate in the events, they can also learn something new,” said Li.

Building on these past initiatives, DEII plans to introduce additional activities this year. For example, members will eventually have the opportunity to participate in a Cherry Hill Public Library outreach event and gain community service hours by discussing the significance of DEI with younger students.

“We’re spreading diversity not only in our school but also especially with younger kids because then [they’ll] grow up with the notion that different people and different backgrounds should be respected,” said Ling.

Furthermore, another potential opportunity the club is looking into is volunteering with Squash Smarts, a charitable organization that fosters important skills like leadership and physical health in Philadelphia’s public school youth. This event is also important in growing DEII’s scope, allowing the club to develop its mission in a broader context.

“We’re trying to find community service opportunities because we know that [a] lot of people do look for those opportunities,” said Li.

Overall, DEII is a great club for East students who seek to learn more about what DEI means in the present-day world and apply it in different contexts. As the student body of East continues to diversify, now is the perfect time to amplify voices and better understand the unique needs of each specific group.

Each year, Cherry Hill High School East students join the numerous clubs and activities the school provides. While East promotes equality and similar opportunities for students, is it fair for some activities to have an activity fee?

The sports at East require activity fees of $80, an amount determined by the district. According to the Cherry Hill School District, a sport’s activity fee must be paid before the tryout or first practice. This may result in a student paying the fee without even making the team. The Cherry Hill School District policy does not specify if a student will receive a refund. This may hinder students from participating in sports at East.

While each sport requires a payment, only some clubs require an activity fee at East. Also, the individual clubs determine their fee price rather than a price that the district sets. These fees are needed to pay for transportation, registration, accommodations, and other expenses. For example, DECA asks those participating in an event to pay $35, while Speech and Debate asks members to pay an activity fee of $20 by the end of the season.

East students were recently asked to participate in a survey to determine their opinions regarding these fees. A total of 40 students filled out the survey. While many students participate in different activities at East, only 40% of students responded that they participate in activities that require a fee. Additionally, 60% responded that they believe that activity fees are fair. Many stated that fees are fine within reason because they are needed to fund different activities. Students also argued that after-school sales are not enough to provide for the club’s activities.

Students were also asked if they considered the activity fees before joining a club. Of those who responded, 42.5% of students responded that they do consider the fees. The next question inquired if a fee ever deterred them from joining a club. 90% of students responded that an activity fee didn’t prevent them from joining a club.

Overall, most students at East are understanding of activity fees. Many students who responded to the survey know the activity fees go towards funding clubs and making them as successful as possible. While they may not be accessible for all students at East, activity fees are not meant to exclude anyone from participating.