This year Campo has broken its all time record for new clubs on campus, with 61 new sign-ups as of Club Day. From activism clubs such as the Action Against Cancer Team to hobby clubs such as the Taylor Swift Lyric Analysis Club, the resurgence of new clubs has brought a new meaning to the importance of club culture on campus.
Commissioner of student affairs senior Kathrynanne Terry explained how “this club day we had 137 clubs compared to 120 last year.” She added that “a good number of clubs also applied for grants this year which shows that they are passionate and want to make a difference.”
Among the slough of new clubs at Campo, sophomore Daniel Siu leads the Cultural Art Club where he guides thematic art projects and discusses the history and culture behind each art piece. Siu thought it would be fun to start a club where he could “create projects and spread cultural diversity around the campus,” referencing their recent making of papel picados for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Sophomore Matthew Lkhagvasuren runs the Campo Cybersecurity Competition Club where computer enthusiasts can practice and compete in problems related to hacking websites and programs. He said that he created the club because he felt there wasn’t any other club on campus like it which competed in competitions. “And so I wanted to make that club so that other people who are also maybe looking for this kind of opportunity can join.”
And despite the influx of new clubs on campus, membership has still remained steady. Siu said “there are more people than I thought there would be so it’s been going pretty well.” Lkhagvasuren added “I’ve found a lot of people who are actually very interested and very motivated to do good things in my club this year.”
With a flourishing scene of clubs on campus helping to empower affinity groups and encourage creativity, Terry believes the importance of clubs is shining through. “I think clubs give people something to bond over that’s not a sport. I feel like our school is really athletically dominant, so clubs help give everyone a place on campus.” And for Terry, a senior who is departing Campo this year, she’s most excited about “the clubs that were created by someone in my grade who’s going to be leaving. I think the leadership being passed on to the next generation of leaders will be really exciting to see.”
