Need advice starting an anime club at my school...

[Nekusagi]

Okay, needing some advice here. Basically for the past few years, I've been wanting to get an anime club at my school, but most of my friends have told me we'd never be allowed. Now it's my senior year, and I really want to leave a lasting mark on the school and start an anime club. The catch is (and this is why my friends don't think we'll be allowed), I attend a Catholic high school that's relatively small (5,000 students), and the administration is extremely conservative (religiously and politically). So, long story short, I need some way to convince the admins that anime is NOT satanic, evil, or (insert threat to Catholic values here). Basically, I just need to prove that anime "fits with the mission and goals of RHS" to quote the form for new club idea submission.

By the way, before anyone says "you'll never be able to start an anime club at a Catholic school," know that our biggest rival has an anime club. And they're supposedly more conservative than we are.

 

[the gadfly]

Hmmm. That's an interesting challenge you face. I'm totally out of my areas of expertise here, but just off the top of my head I'd suggest:

(1) Determine what "fits with the mission and goals of RHS" means to the administration of your school. The only way you'll find that out is by asking the people who will make the decision. You'll also have the opportunity to probe what their limits are.

(2) Once you know what the criteria are, find animes that meet them. Use them to argue for establishment of an anime club. Do not go around talking about animes that don't fit the criteria.

The hard part is how comfortable you are with deception. It may be the "acceptable" animes are shows nobody watches. But those are the ones you'll be pushing knowing once the anime club is established, you'll be able to discuss, debate and enjoy unacceptable animes as long as you do it underneath the school administration's radar.

(3) Or...you could just contact someone at your rival school and find out how they did it.

 

[Nekusagi]

(3) Or...you could just contact someone at your rival school and find out how they did it.

Good advice on the first two there... but there's a problem. I don't know anyone from the other school.

Thanks, anyway. I've already got my ground rules worked out. Obviously, no hentai, and given it's a Catholic school, shounen-ai (as a main theme, not as an element, real or imagined), is probably out of the question.

 

[Rayne]

Wow, that's like right up my alley. I, too, went to a Catholic High school with
general population only around <1000 and ran a pretty successful anime club.

True, it does have very strong moral issues with our faith, but in order to
convince, we had to be extrememly careful with the wording. Ok, first step
is to find staff support. Find a teacher first who would be willing to moderate
the club. The principal would find it easier to support your case if you already
found one of his subordinates as a canidate, but this is only half the job.

Next you have to create a firm set of guidelines and state what your club
will be about. Present a set of rules, ones that adhere a strict polict that
essentially ban the obvious [porn, intense blood/gore]. I'm pretty sure Public
doesn't really get away with that, and neither should the highschool.
State specifically that you will not show anything X-Rated and stay below PG-13.
[Even at PG-13, you may have some disputes so say you won't show these often.*]

Ok, next you must take any responsiblity for 'minors.' Keep in mind, you may have
students running around under the age limit. There may be the rare 12 year old
freshman who made it in young. You have to assure the principal that any people
of any age could watch the anime you show and that nothing should be objectionable.
You have to realize, the principal must uphold a standard parents expect, especially
of a Catholic School and breaking that may result in lawsuits for him. These are the
precautions you must explain hand in hand or nothing will get through.

OK, now you have to give the club some substance. You will NOT just walk up to
a school administrator and ask, "Could we, like, watch some anime in the other room
and like, do it all for fun cause me and a bunch of friends want to do it? K thx bai!"
I take it you do have a conscious mind that handles such delicate negotiations with
poise and tact so I know it won't play out like that.

But what you will have to bring to your argument is how regular anime viewing will
enrich your current learning experience. Right now, those adults see it as hollow
minded TV watching as simple as any saturday morning cartoon. You need to show
them what value Japanese Anime brings. For one, state that they break a cultural barrier.
Japan likes to show off what goodies it has and wants it's viewers to take in it's
culture. You have the benefit of figuring out Japan though it's anime (though not
all anime is that closely tied to actual Japanese culture as it has you believe).

Second, say that you will have regular discussions about the anime you watch.
After each viewing, we dissected and tore apart anime such as FLCL as though it
were Emily Dickenson. Telling your Principal that you are discussing plot, liasons,
things the anime you just watched had something in common with some 1930s
Frank Sinatra album would certainly spark attention.
These were part of the key elements that helped.

One more thing. Don't limit it to just Japanese. Explain you want to encompass
a wide range of South Eastern Asian history in your small hour
period (or longer if your teacher can stay). Being so focused on the anime
will make him think of just that, the anime, some cartoon. Make him
think of the cultural enrichment you will be getting out of it and you should be fine.

*Ok, now here's where it comes together. After you come to terms, you are
free to help govern the way you see fit. The principal will not be there to
check on you after you've made the deal. However, I strictly suggest to
abide by any contracts you state. You may fall out of the boundaries
once or twice, but don't make it a habbit. If allowed, keep the club 'closed doors.'
Anime is not the most easily judged and can be mistaken for the worst
through bias. As long as you ok things though your Moderator, you are
good to go. (like I said, you may show things PG-13 and up, but don't
mention this too much off the bat.)

Once it's in your hands have fun with it, but err on the side of caution.

If you need any more advice, ask me.

 

[Nekusagi]

We had a similar issue back freshman year when our theatre teacher started a Video Game Club... our principal took issue to the students playing Halo on the school grounds. And yes, Japanese pop culture is part of my plan- we could easily try to get a "J-Pop club" if the anime thing doesn't work out. So are discussions.

I figure if we can watch Gattaca in Bio class and have it pass as "educational" (or even worse, Osmosis Jones- yes, we were forced to write a paper on that), I've got a pretty good case for the value of anime.

 

[Rayne]

Exactly. And to further bolster the proof, (something I overlooked in your original post and Gadfly mentioned)
Using examples of existing Anime Clubs in other Catholic High Schools helps
show adapatation and that it can be done.

 

[the gadfly]

Rayne, I bow my head to you. You obviously know what you're talking about. I can't disagree with anything you've said.

 

[Habunake]

I'd say start with a showing of a Anime that isn't too outrageous (like BoBoBo) or too peverted (like Love Hina), just too get everyone in the groove and see the likes and dislikes.

 

[Rayne]

Rayne, I bow my head to you. You obviously know what you're talking about. I can't disagree with anything you've said.

Well, I respect that. Thank you.

If Neku wants to make this club work, she should make the best impression
she can while confronting the principal, its as simple as that.
I'm just giving her guidelines that show the safest way to go about it.