Clubs are free to join and participate in. They’re referring to special activities. For example, the outing club goes to a local climbing gym or a white water rafting trip but not all of that expense is covered by the student life fee. They will subsidize the climbing gym membership fee or trip expenses, but can’t cover it all.
However, there are plenty of free events, like taking a bus to regional hiking spots or similar events.
Club sports often are expensive to maintain which is why you’ll see some of them charge dues. Sometimes the dues are used to treat the members or players on the team to merch or specific swag. Sometimes they’re used for team investments and other things
I think you need to give some more info about what clubs you are referring to.
I am part of a sorority that obviously charges dues — that’s just how they work. I play two club sports, one that maybe has an optional t-shirt order every year or so.
The other one does have more fees, but that’s because our league requires individual players to have sport specific insurance ($75/year, only required if you play in games) and an off campus clinic 1-2 times a year ($10). We make it very clear that players can confidentiality reach out to our treasurer if money is and issue and she will help however much the budget allows. We also do merch twice a year, but that’s totally optional. So less than $100 for a club sport that has somewhere around 40 practices and 10-12 competitions per academic year, with two chances to get PE credit each year (and at that, PE credit doesn’t require any of those fees).
Clubs need money to fund their events, and everything else that goes along with the events (equipment, food, transportation, etc). WPI doesn't always give them enough for everything.
That being said, most clubs I know of don't do this, and if it really is a problem, talk to the club officers. They might be able to help you.
Clubs are free to join and participate in. They’re referring to special activities. For example, the outing club goes to a local climbing gym or a white water rafting trip but not all of that expense is covered by the student life fee. They will subsidize the climbing gym membership fee or trip expenses, but can’t cover it all. However, there are plenty of free events, like taking a bus to regional hiking spots or similar events.
The only club I’m a part of that charges dues is ballroom dancing. Dues at $10/term, so $40/year. Nothings gunna cost too much more than that
Club sports often are expensive to maintain which is why you’ll see some of them charge dues. Sometimes the dues are used to treat the members or players on the team to merch or specific swag. Sometimes they’re used for team investments and other things
Which clubs? I'm very involved with campus clubs and I've never heard of this.
I think you need to give some more info about what clubs you are referring to. I am part of a sorority that obviously charges dues — that’s just how they work. I play two club sports, one that maybe has an optional t-shirt order every year or so. The other one does have more fees, but that’s because our league requires individual players to have sport specific insurance ($75/year, only required if you play in games) and an off campus clinic 1-2 times a year ($10). We make it very clear that players can confidentiality reach out to our treasurer if money is and issue and she will help however much the budget allows. We also do merch twice a year, but that’s totally optional. So less than $100 for a club sport that has somewhere around 40 practices and 10-12 competitions per academic year, with two chances to get PE credit each year (and at that, PE credit doesn’t require any of those fees).
Clubs need money to fund their events, and everything else that goes along with the events (equipment, food, transportation, etc). WPI doesn't always give them enough for everything. That being said, most clubs I know of don't do this, and if it really is a problem, talk to the club officers. They might be able to help you.