The Cardinal

Club Day Takes Bull by the Horns

Mike Scaringe
Staff Writer

SVC Students may have noticed a mechanical animal bucking fellow classmates off its back on Tuesday the 6th in the cafeteria.  The slick-saddled bull was brought in to bring awareness to the quarterly event known as Club Day sponsored by the Student Life office.  The animal attracted waves of curious students who either rode or cheered on the brave riders.

Student Elizabeth Hopper, who had ridden the bull, said, “It’s really hard. Harder than it looks. But it’s a great experience in not being shy.”
“If you get all robot you’ll lose it.  If you’re loosey goosey you can ride it out,” said student Cody Connite, who had been on the bull three times.
Attention to the bull did not overshadow the clubs themselves with tables set in the campus center with eager volunteers wanting to talk with students.
“Clubs enrich our learning environment and allow students to participate in the college in a way that is nonacademic,” says Student Activites and Health Services Coordinator Laura Morris “They enable students to experience new levels of responsibility such as leadership, financial management projects, planning and event coordination. Clubs also provide a venue for students to connect with their communities through service or learning projects. This gives them a sense of belonging or identity; students who identify with a social/activity group on campus are more confident and successful in their academic work.”
According to Morris,  “Clubs are created when a group of students decide they wish to unify for a common purpose and be recognized as an official organization by the college. The students select officers, an advisor and create their governing documents (bylaws and constitution). When these tasks are done the club is granted seed money by the student government.  Some are service oriented, some promote education or multiculturalism. All try to provide opportunities for members and interesting experiences events and service for our campus community”
When asked what the school does to support clubs, Morris replied,  “Lots! Recognized clubs, those that have gone through the process to become official, can reserve meeting space on campus, reserve college vehicles and use other college services on campus. Every year the Associated Students of Skagit Valley College give funds to clubs participating in the Services and Activities budget process, so the college supports clubs with funding as well.”
Morris says there are no negative aspects to having clubs on campus, although she jokes, “Some clubs eat lots of popcorn.”
Adds Morris, “Every group possesses interesting challenges and we welcome them.”