TIE (Teens Influencing Equity) Club meets every second and fourth Thursday after school in B215. This club aims to provide increased transparency about equity at Southwest High School, as well as encouraging equity throughout the student body. The club wants to provide an inclusive space where every individual is treated with respect regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or background.
“Equity means treating people with respect and learning to respect others,” freshman Allie Scheel said. “Having more equity in the school will just make it better overall, people will hopefully be kinder and respect each other.”
promoting fairness and equal opportunities for all students and teachers regardless of their background, identity or status, can lead to a more diverse and inclusive space where everyone feels equal. TIE Club aims for this outcome which is why they speak on these issues concerning equity instead of keeping them hidden.
“I want everyone at Southwest to feel like this is their home,” Mrs. Melanie Gross, club sponsor, said. “I think we have to continue to work on respecting the differences in each other and appreciating them.”
TIE Club tackles the issues involving equity in hopes that southwest will become a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone feels like they have a place here at Lincoln Southwest. TIE Club organizes events like Inclusivity Week, Positivity Week, and other cultural celebrations to educate others and honor diverse identities.
“We host Positivity Week and equality weeks which help people understand issues such as women’s rights or African American rights,” senior Morgan Anderson said. “It helps other people who might not know about these topics learn about these topics.”
Inclusivity Week takes place in January and February where TIE Club educates students and staff about various issues involving equity. Along with this, three years ago, TIE Club started doing Positivity Week in May with the main purpose of ending the school year on a positive note. In the 2023-2024 school year, TIE Club partnered with GSA for National Coming Out Day to bring awareness as well.
“We’re an awesome group. We have a ton of fun, and we talk about issues that are really important,” Gross said. “I hope that it’s a place where everybody feels welcome and at home. So anyone is welcome to come.”
