Immersed in a campus lifestyle that revolves around college application padding, it’s no surprise some students take on club positions without registering the level of responsibility the jobs require.

Officer titles have become trophies that, once pocketed, are left sitting on the shelf to collect dust. The lackluster effort that permeates these clubs shows why these students should have their trophies revoked.

The typical officer interview process sees no shortage of members asserting with vigor their ability to juggle the most laborious tasks, to accommodate the club’s schedule above all else and to generate ideas with boundless creativity.

Yet when the next school year rolls around, those same eager members, now on the leadership board, are unable to back up these claims.

Others on the team probably notice the lack of effort as well, so club presidents should take the initiative to schedule a private meeting with the individual to clarify what might be going on.

Are outside factors impeding the officer’s ability to perform their tasks? Can the issue be resolved?

Addressing the situation enables everyone to make plans for adjustment. Not everybody can be at their full potential 100 percent of the time, but each officer should at least be capable of meeting their position’s basic obligations.

When an officer dodges responsibilities and the problem remains unalleviated, it may be time to call that person in for impeachment. After discussing the issue with the club adviser, the team should then take action and decide with a vote whether to keep that student on or strip them of the role.

Because although most clubs already require members to reapply year by year, this doesn’t do much to check those who take on a position senior year only to slack off for the remainder of their high school career.

In fact, that’s exactly the issue colleges see within every new pool of acceptees. And how do they curb and manage student inclinations to simply get in then give up? By rescinding their offer.

To wait until the end of the year to reconsider an inconsistent officer’s administrative position is to ride out the remainder of this term in mediocrity.

All too often it seems as if students think the task is finished once they spot their name on a “new officers” list.

But obtaining a leadership position should not be the accomplishment—fulfilling and expanding upon that role should. So even after making it onto the leadership board, members should remember that potential new officers will be eager to take over their positions no matter the time of year.