By Hazel Hurlbut 

   Discussions! Drives! Debates! The new and old Tempe Prep clubs are busy this year! 

   Juniors Mariah Gunnison and Julia Hannon recently started a book club at TPA. They were inspired to start the club for a number of reasons. 

   First, they pointed out that TPA is a liberal arts school and it has not had a book club for a long time. 

   Second, many people at TPA enjoy reading and they thought it would be beneficial and fun to have a club available for students who like to read. 

   They were also inspired to start a book club because there has been a decrease in the literacy rate in the country overall, and they find it important to encourage students to continue reading, not only in class, but also outside of class. 

   Book club members will read one book and have three meetings per month. Students will send in book recommendations and then the club votes on a book. During the first meeting, the book will be introduced and there will be activities. 

   The last meeting of the month will be a book discussion, similar to discussion in Humane Letters classes. 

   Mariah and Julia are excited to start a book club at TPA this year and are especially excited  to “see what books people come up with,” says Mariah, and “see what books people like the most,” says Julia.  

   Herstory also has lots going on this year. The club has been busy with presentations, discussions and are currently hosting a drive. Herstory officers have presented to the club about women in STEM, the history of the color pink and inequality in sports throughout history. 

   Herstory is also doing a drive, collecting donations of feminine hygiene products. These products will be donated to an organization called Valley Women for Women. 

   Speech and Debate is also off to a good start this year. According to senior Dayanara Gomez “everything is going pretty well” and “everyone has been working pretty well together.” Speech and Debate welcomed a new coach this year and the club really likes her. 

   The club also has many new middle schoolers and has done a great job of welcoming them.