Second Club Rush rains in prospective members into the cafeteria for activities
The Gay-Straight Alliance at Saddleback wore purple in order to spread awareness of recent deaths. (Courtesy of Carmenmara Hernandez-Bravo)
The second Saddleback College Club Rush, held last Wednesday, allowed clubs to recruit new members. Students watched the Salsa Club perform a Latin dance routine, while new club to the Rush Superfriends had a cookie decorating station, to name just a few.
The nationalized event of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community honored the recent teen suicides, so the Gay and Straight Alliance wore purple to support the cause.
“I thought that it was amazing to see a club that actually cares about making a difference,” Justin Huft, president of the Inter-Club Council, said. “[They are] taking steps to create a positive, lasting change.
The last Rush was held on Oct. 6 and it too had been affected by the continuous rain, so the event was again moved inside the cafeteria in the Student Services Center building for what Edmund Cleofe, director of publicity and events, said it to be a more “welcoming” setting.
“I was very pleased with how it turned out, especially given the multiple last minute changes to the location. There was a lot of free candy and food, which was nice,” Huft said. “I also like the fact that some of the clubs were really engaging their audience. There was dancing, singing, poetry reading. It was pretty rad, man.”
Clubs such as Another Music Club and Superfriends were a new addition to the event and made aware to students to what they were about.
Another Music is for students who are involved in a band or want to be in a band. They incorporate Japanese into their songs to make their music what Kristianna Weber, 20, Japanese music, said to be one of a kind.
“If you are interested in this type of music and are interested in Japanese and you want to be part of that world, this [club] is that type of inspiration that supports it,” said Weber. “It is not like orchestra or marching band. It is the garage bands that want more inspiration then just their parents saying ‘here is a guitar, go make noise.'”
Another Music club plays a part in the band’s practicing, whether it is at Saddleback or at each other’s homes, but on different days they also study the Japanese language.
“Other than practicing we would be studying Japanese together which our music incorporates a lot of,” Weber said. “And we encourage each other to do our best in that.”
Superfriends is all about befriending students with disabilities, as well as holding events.
“[The students in the club] would get more involved in the college by doing a lot of community service. It is a club where you can help other students,” said advisor Lori Thibeau. “And it is also good because sometimes you can figure out what you want to do in your future career.”
Every month the club will plan special outings for its members and the students with disabilities may participate. They are holding a Halloween party at the end of the month.
“We have gone to Angel games, the movies, and have done beach bonfires. We do different things every month,” Thibeau said. “So it is a way to get more involved in the college, to help, and it is fun too.”
Psi Beta, Circle K, Appreciation of Pilipino-American Culture, the International, and the Spanish Club were also involved.
The Spanish’s purpose is to help others understand that there are different cultures and that together all can make a big difference, said Yoritzi Miranda, Spanish.
“[The Spanish Club] is about teaching people about the Spanish culture and about the language,” said Miranda. “We are also very involved in charity work. Our main goal for this year is to be involved in at least 12 charity events.”
This year the club is planning on feeding the homeless at Thanksgiving and to sell lemonade at the Shops at Mission Viejo to raise money for breast cancer.
Another cause they said they were passionate about is informing teenage students of college and to make sure they are taking the right steps for their future.
On Nov. 2, the club is going to have a celebration for Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, the Spanish’s culture of Halloween.
“We don’t celebrate Halloween, but we celebrate Dia de los Muertos,” Miranda said. “We celebrate those who have passed away and that we still remember them.”
Both Huft and Cleofe agree that they hope for typical dry, sunny weather for the next Club Rush so it can be held outside because there will be more student traffic that will have the opportunity to learn about all the clubs on campus.
The Inter-Club Council website can be found on the ASG homepage at http://www.saddleback.edu/asg/clubinformation.html. There, students can find more information on clubs, past and present, as well as information to start a new club.