No matter where your interests lie, Mt. A has a club for you!
With over 100 clubs and societies on campus, it is no secret Mt. A is a school full of diverse student interests and talents. This quality was made incredibly clear by the bustling crowd at the clubs and societies fair, held on September 8 in Tweedie Hall, as crowds of students on the lookout for free stickers, community, and new hobbies filled the small room. Whether you are interested in sports, academics, music, student advocacy, or just looking for a fun way to meet people and pass the time, there is a group waiting to connect with you!
The good news is, chances are your program already has a society you can join. Academic clubs are a great way to meet your peers with similar scholarly or career goals, and find events relevant to your degree. Some examples of academic clubs include the Aviation Society, the Biology Society, Women in Commerce, the History Society and the English Society, among many others.From seeking academic mentorship to connecting with professors, or even just making new friends within your program, keeping up with these clubs is a great way to blow off steam while furthering your career goals.
Continuing across the wide spectrum of clubs at Mt.A, those which fall under the social interest category, such as the Garnet & Gold Musical Theatre Society, Fly-Fishing Society, or the Magician’s Guild, all offer a channel for connection over shared passions, no matter what you may love to do . One such example is the Cereal Appreciation Club, founded by the current president, fourth-year Rebecca Schelew. This group gathers once a month, just to hangout and have a snack! Schelew offered her thoughts on finding community on campus in unexpected places. “Cereal is a big staple in most people’s lives, but it’s something that goes unnoticed and unappreciated,” says Schelew, “what better way to bring people together, to create a wonderful community that has no stakes, no pressure, and is just welcoming to everyone, than cereal!” With over 130 members registered to partake in the club’s ‘Monthly Munch,’ it is clear sometimes the little things we take for granted can bring us all together.
There is also an incredibly active athletics community at Mt. A! Currently, there are 20 club sports teams on campus, allowing for all levels of commitment and sporting ability. Some of the performance sports include the Mt. A Dance Team, Gameday Cheer and Synchronized Swimming, alongside other sports like Men’s volleyball, pickleball, rugby, lacrosse and cross-country running. With sporting commitment opportunities from club, intramural, and varsity,throughout every season and for every level of skill, why not get active and try something new?
Meanwhile, there are so many health, cultural and social justice initiatives to get involved with on campus! Co-President of Mt. A Gives Blood, Sally Bourne, offered her thoughts on the importance of using her club to foster community and positive change. Bourne remarked, “[Mt.A Gives Blood] encourage[s] and inform[s] students about the importance of blood donation and stem cell donation,”continuing, “I know that it can be sort of tricky to get those matches, and this is even trickier when it comes to stem cell donation. So, I wanted to be a part of advocating for those people who need those donations and encouraging others to donate.”
Missed fair? It is not too late to join in on the fun! Vice-President of Student Life Anna Grear explains how to find the clubs you are looking for. Grear noted students should go to the MASU’s website (masu.ca) and navigate the site to find the list of clubs and societies registered with the organization. . Grear further encouraged engaging with a society on their social media, “, you can usually reach out there, or even just see what events they’re hosting and go to one of their events!”
If you are still feeling as though your interests are unrepresented on campus, you can also consider starting your own society! “It’s really easy to start a club!” says Grear, “You can fill out a club constitution, and that gets sent to me, and I would bring that to the Students’ Administrative Council (SAC).” From there, once approved, you can start recruiting members! If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to the MASU, via email or by attending office hours. Consider this your sign to get out there and see what joining a new club can bring to your Mt. A experience!