Enka High club's matchmaker survey draws complaint

ASHEVILLE — A survey that was part of a fundraiser by an Enka High School club has generated a complaint from a parent.

The survey included a question related to sexual orientation. It was part of a February "matchmaker" fundraiser done through the online company Matchomatics. The company's website describes it as the "ultimate student matching fundraiser."

The students fill out the surveys, the company comes up with the matches and then the club sells the results.

"We send off the surveys and then they (students) may purchase (results) the week of Valentine's Day," said Laura Roberts, adviser to the Enka High School Junior Civitan Club.

Members of the Junior Civitan Club approached Roberts about doing the fundraiser. Proceeds were to benefit Hearts with Hands, a local relief organization.

Most of the questions were "fun things," Roberts said, such as asking students about their favorite pet.

The survey also included questions about favorite music, favorite fast food, "best super power" and "most boring sport to watch."

Roberts said she found out Monday that a parent had complained about one question asking students if they were attracted to the opposite sex, same sex or both.

School officials stress the surveys were voluntary, and students were not required to participate.

Roberts said she is surprised that it generated a complaint. "It didn't really register that there might be a problem with it," she said.

Roberts said she hasn't had a chance to speak with students who organized the fundraiser. She plans to talk with the principal to determine if they should continue with the fundraiser.

"These are your student leaders that are instigating these projects, and I really hate it's come to this. I don't want them to feel bad about something they had good intentions with," Roberts said.