Various faces, cultures and languages are what make up the student population at most community colleges in California.
In order to shed light on these differences, many college campuses allow students to create groups that organize events on and off campus to promote diversity.
“In terms of promoting diversity, we have our doors open to everyone,” Monique Lopez, president of the Gay Straight Alliance, said.
The number of students involved in campus clubs varies each semester. However, what is hard to change is the fact that students will join clubs or groups that offer something familiar to them rather than what’s different.
“Most students stick with what’s common to them,” Camille Solis, vice president of the Latino Organization for Minority Achievement, said. “Most people only look at the first part of our club’s name but they don’t look at the second part, which deals with minority achievement.”
Fundraisers are the most common strategy used by clubs to recruit new members. There are also events organized during college hour that inform the general student population about the club’s intentions.
“We always try to promote through our events that straight people can be part of our club as well,” Lopez said. “Through our events, we want to let people know that diversity is acceptable.”
“The purpose of our club is to go out to people who feel that there is no club available for them,” Solis said.
Still, the biggest problem that club members face when trying to recruit new members is the indifference displayed by most students.
“The problem is most people come to school and go straight home,” Alex ‘Bubba’ Calderon, President of the Cinema Arts Club, said. “Those are the people that we are constantly trying to recruit.”
Working off campus is also a strategy used by clubs to have exposure within the community. GSA, along with LOMA, went to Animo High School in Inglewood as part of their reaching out effort within local communities.
“It was one of our more successful off-campus events,” Solis said. “We spoke to students on how college is the best option out there.”
The success that the clubs have had this semester has been seen in the diversity among each club’s members, combined with the amount of events that have been organized by more than one group.
“We always try to create our own activities and allow other clubs to help,” Calderon said. “We also try to help other clubs out with their activities.”
Yet the main concern for some club leaders is to increase the diversity of students within their clubs.
“We’ve been somewhat successful in recruiting other minority students,” Solis said. “However, it’s been mostly Hispanic students who’ve joined us, but we want everyone who’s different to join.”
“I think we’re one of the most diverse clubs on campus,” Calderon said. “Not just based on age, sex or cultures; we get many people who are majoring in different fields who become part of our club.”
Cultural Clubs
Note: All club mailboxes are located at the Student Development Office information counter in the West Lounge of the Student Activities Center.
Ethiopian ClubMeeting time: Leave a message in the club’s mailbox.
Gay-Straight AllianceMeeting Time: Leave a message in the club’s mailbox. Students may also visit the club’s website (http://www.geocities.com/glbtecc/).
German ClubMeeting time: Leave a message in the club’s mailbox.
Korean Campus Crusade for ChristMeeting Time: Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria Decathlon Room.
Korean Inter-Varsity Christian FellowshipMeeting Time: Leave a message in the club’s mailbox.
Latino Organization for Minority AchievementMeeting time: Tuesdays at 1 p.m. in the Social Sciences Building, Room 112.
Martial Arts and Asian Culture ClubMeeting time: Fridays at 1 p.m. in the PE Building, Room 2.
Native American Club Meeting Time: Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. in the Natural Sciences Building, Room 205.
Pan African Student UnionMeeting Time: Leave a message in the club’s mailbox.
Persian Culture SocietyMeeting Time: Leave a message in the club’s mailbox.
Society of Hispanic Professional EngineersMeeting Time: Contact the club advisers.Susana Prieto: (310) 660-3230Arturo Hernandez: (310) 660-3887
Student Organization of Latinos Meeting Time: Thursdays at 1 p.m. in the Social Sciences Building, Room 104.
