Campus clubs grow steadily

Campus clubs grow steadily.

By Errol Evans

            SUNY Buffalo State has a large assortment of clubs that are constantly growing and attracting more members. Clubs provide a way for students to get involved in something of interest to them and also meet and interact with other students that share the same interest. There are many steps taken to keep a club running successfully. 

There are 65 official clubs on campus currently; some of these clubs include the Geology Club, Astronomy Club, Guitar Club, AASO (African American student organization), BAM (Black Active Minds), PASO (Pan African Student organization), FSA (Fashion Students Association) and many more. There are numerous clubs and the number is still growing every year. On the Buffalo State College campus the clubs grow at a rate of about 3-5 clubs per year.  The wide variety of clubs on campus help to give everyone a better chance to find at least one they can find interest in.

The process of becoming a club is a long one. To even begin this process you need to have a president, a vice president, a treasurer, at least one facticity member from SUNY Buffalo State, and ten members not including any of these positions.  From there you need to go to the student union and talk to someone from the fourth floor student life office. The person looking to create a club will have to fill out a WUFOO form, which is to make your club official. Every club has to be official to be recognized as a club on campus. The process of becoming official, takes about a year. In this year, the staff of student life is reviewing the request for the club and deciding to provide the funding for the club. Each club is allowed funding in the amount in which the creator of the club can decide. Every club needs funding, one thousand dollars is minimum that you need to start up. This money is for any type of things the club may need such as equipment, club clothing, refreshments, events and things of that nature.

The largest and most successful club on the SUNY Buffalo State campus is the African American Student Organization. The club was founded in 1967, originally named the Afro-American Society. The club was created to build relations within the African American community in Buffalo. The club currently has 95 members. Not only does the club speak and discuss problems that African Americans face in today’s world, but they also hold events on campus that are open to any of Buffalo State students.

 “We host annual fashion shows, a talent show based on the Apollo, entitled "Apollo Night" and A pageant,” said Rashida Davaud, the club’s secretary. These events are all put together by the members of AASO and are usually some of the bigger/more popular events on campus. Davaud’s job is to keep track of emails and informing any interested or potential members about AASO and what exactly they do. When asked why AASO is the #1 club on campus Davaud responded, “its just a bunch of people that feel passionate about the same thing and use a club as a way to show it” The club prides itself in being the voice for minority students on campus.

“Successful clubs always have a strong base of people who feel strongly about the club and are willing to advertise to others,” said Charlene Fontana, assistant to the director of student life. Fontana believes that to have a successful club you not only need as many members as possible, but members that are willing to try their hardest to attract other people by informing them about AASO. This means having people who are willing to sacrifice their time in order to make the club expand. 

Newer clubs on the SUNY Buffalo State Campus can look at AASO and how they do things to possibly use similar techniques to grow their club.

A club, such as the Buffalo State Guitar Club (BSGS) is a smaller and newer club on campus. BSGS’s purpose is to get musicians, who play the guitar, to get together and perform and practice new and original pieces. The club hosts a few events each year to show and gain interest in their music. The club currently has 18 members and doesn’t have as much popularity as other clubs on campus. This may be because the interest of playing guitars isn’t as high as other activities on campus. BSGS could do more advertising for their club with activities that not only interest current guitarist but possibly build interest in students who don’t play and would like to learn.

“BSGS is just a fun time, and if you truly enjoy playing its worth it,” said Rodney Cassel. Cassel is a freshmen at SUNY Buffalo State, he’s new to BSGS but insists not only is the club a load of fun but all the members are very close. Being a smaller club everyone knows everyone and making and playing music together builds even more chemistry. Even though the Guitar Club is a smaller club on campus, according to the members this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

There are many different things that go into making a successful club. Every club has something different that makes it successful. Even if a club doesn’t have a lot of members doesn’t always mean the club isn’t successful.

As Michael Ong , Buffalo State Senior and member of 11 clubs said “If you’re a part of a club it’s already a success for you, because you’re involved in something you like”

                                               Oliver Jones, new member of AASO