By John C. Marston ’13
THE ROUNDUP

Sept. 10 marked the official end of this year’s Student Council sponsored Magazine Drive.

As with previous years, student participation could have been better.

A little more than 400 students, or about one-third of the student body, submitted a magazine form.

Kudos to these students for raising about $16,000, which is about twice as much as the previous year’s total.

A step in the right direction, but how high could that number be if there was more participation?

This precedented apathy comes in the face of an aggressive marketing campaign.

Awareness tactics for the drive have been impressive.

Flyers plastered with clever and quirky statements of affluent men, an even larger barrage of e-mails from Ms. Sandra Dennard, a rally held to raise thought and even several videos showing the endorsement of the campus’s classiest gentleman for the drive have all been presented to students.

In the face of this, there is utter lack of caring from the student body.

Responses were universally the same.

“Whack,” said Johnte Dennis ’13 when questioned over his perception of the drive. “Not a lot of participation whatsoever.”

“The students’ only motivation is Chipotle.  Not genuine school motivation,” said Miles Kent ’13.

Kent said a better alternative for a fundraiser would be, for an example, a Silly Bandz drive, something which is trendy and original.

Is the rigidity and lack of fresh air why the student body is so apathetic to a vital fundraiser?

Maybe. But perhaps the problem is that no one is actually aware of how much it impacts the school.

“$3,000-4,000. That is around the amount spent at the typical Brophy tailgate/Friday Night Lights,” said Mr. Jeff Glosser, assistant principal of student activities.

“$500 for the tailgate,$2,200 for the bands, free food for a thousand teenagers: it adds up.”

The revenues for these events and others such as Sunday Funday, the 90 student-sponsored clubs, sending teams to tournaments and the seven school dances are all funded by the Student Council, of which the magazine drive is one of their most vital cash sources.

Accordingly, the magazine drive is the main propeller of Brophy exceptionalism–the things that make Brophy unique from any other high school. Without the funds, these extracurricular activities dry up, and we return to mediocrity.

Negative times lie ahead if the drive continues to remain subpar, either way with a reduced Brophy social presence or higher tuition.

“Activities bring fun and excitement to campus, co-ed events  foster relationships, but all of this costs money. If everyone should sell one magazine, we would preserve these unique set of activities,” Mr. Glosser said.

The problem is this isn’t happening.

Take the small initiative and sell a magazine next year.

I think it’s worth it.