By Richard Lam
From video games to the genocide in Darfur, the University of Calgary campus has a growing number of clubs for students looking to get involved.
On top of the nearly 200 clubs that existed during September’s Clubs Week, 18 new groups have been sanctioned.
“We should be up to 220 by Christmas, and there will be another burst in January for the new semester,” said Students’ Union vice-president operations and finance Joey Brocke. “Applications are accepted on an on-going basis throughout the year — and the process is simple.”
After deciding on a club type and name, fill out the Sanctioned Club Agreement Form and the Club Start-Up Application, both of which can be found and submitted online. Next, find 20 interested students to sign up, then write up a constitution, which will serve as your governing document for the club, explained Brocke.
Light Up The World is one of the newly minted clubs.
“[LUTW] is committed to promoting awareness around the Calgary community and raising funds . . . partnering with underserved communities that have identified the need for economical and sustainable light and energy solutions,” states their constitution.
Moving on to sports and hobbies clubs, the City Lights Film Cult’s enthusiastic leader Owen Thelwall is excited about the new club.
“[We are] designed to find the most fantastical films in history and submit them to the sensory organs of the student body. We will transform That Empty Space into an alternate universe for two hours at a time, where Cecil B. DeMille or Luis Buñuel control the sway of sound and flux of image,” he said.
The club will hold screenings once a week, said Thelwall, with monthly lottery screenings and special events planned for the future.
The Dinos Football FANatics is a “street team” dedicated to increasing student spirit at the university’s athletic events.
“[Our] mission is to raise awareness and support for Dinos Athletics, specifically Dinos football,” states their constitution. FANatics hopes to become a social place to help students find meaning in their university experience.
Students interested in topics ranging from corporations and bank systems, to health and pharmaceuticals and media and technology can check out Xposed.
“[Xposed] has been created to inform students about current events using alternative viewpoints from non mainstream media. This will create a forum that will raise educated discussions among members and promote open dialogue among the student body,” said president Juan Casallas. “The main medium that we will use to inform our members will be through documentaries that we have gathered from a number of sources.”