KORTNEY STEVENS, Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong
In total, the University of Alaska Southeast has 18 clubs this spring, including some new ones.
The Student Activities Board is projecting more clubs in the next couple of weeks. Some new clubs this year are Generation Action, Sip and Sit, and the Deep Blue Jazz Band. A few returning clubs are Sustainability, Math, Radio UAS, and the Gaming Club, the largest club on campus.
UAS freshman Calvin Zuelow said Generation Action is a network of student clubs across the country facilitated by Planned Parenthood. He said registering a club on the UAS campus was easy.
“Its purpose is to educate students about reproductive health and reproductive justice and related issues,” Zuelow said.
“Something we might do is organize students to go and testify at the legislature or have some trivia night about sexual health.”
He said he wanted a way to get involved with something he was passionate about.
Generation Action was among those at Org-Smorg, the biggest club fair of spring semester, held Jan. 24 in Lakeside Grill. Org-Smorg was for current and new clubs to invite students to join.
Felix Thillet is Administrative Assistant for Student Activities, Student Government, and the Whalesong. Thillet helped SAB organize Org-Smorg.
“It’s a good way for clubs to promote themselves, get new people and also learn about the new policies that are taking place so they can learn about all the resources available for them on campus,” Thillet said.
Social science major Brandy Mulbury is a sophomore and new to UAS this year. She is part of the Deep Blue Jazz Band club.
“If we get more people then we will be the UAS big band, Deep Blue Jazz Band. We are hoping to be able to practice at the Rec Center if we get enough members,” Mulbury said. She is excited to see how to club grows.
UAS clubs were formerly under Student Government, but are now overseen by SAB. A wide variety of clubs await, or students can create their own. For more information, go to the UAS website under Activities and Involvement.
According to SAB, joining or starting a club may help students meet new people/friends, make connections within the community, relieve stress, and gain new skills.