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Fifteen student organizations — including vocal, athletic, and academic groups — formed this year at Lafayette. Such a steep jump in the number of campus clubs has not been seen since 1995.
“This may be the result of a first-year class that is anxious to get involved,” says Pam Brewer, associate dean of students. “Lafayette’s clubs and organizations provide a positive way for students to share their personal interests with others. Each group is student-based, so the self-governance aspect is also very appealing.”
The new groups that joined the ranks last fall are Leopard Disk Golf Association, Armenian Students Association, Women’s Club Lacrosse, and Linux Users Group. The Arts Society and Philosophy Club also experienced resurgences in activity. Last spring, a cappella groups Soulfege and Quintessence made their debut on campus along with Math Club, Cancer Society, Lafayette Association of Free Trade Advocates, Lafayette Road Runners, Baseball Club, and the alternative publication Monthly Squibb. Fellowship of Christian Athletes also returned to campus after a short hiatus.
The rise in new student organizations is due in part to enthusiasm exhibited by students like Soulfege founder Lisa Oliveri ’05.
“I sang co-ed a cappella with a group in Boston,” says Oliveri, a psychology major from Oradell, N.J. “I had a lot of fun with it and wanted to make the same opportunity available to Lafayette students.”
“I wanted to join an a cappella group because I’ve been singing for many years,” adds Jacquelyn Goodwin ’06 of Green Pond, N.J. “The people are really great and make rehearsals fun. The group is also very democratic. We all have a say in the songs we sing and how the group is run.”
This spring, Soulfege made a special guest appearance at a Chorduroys concert, gave two concerts at Gilbert’s Café, and performed at the 21st annual Shad Fishing Tournament in Easton and at a local senior center.
Linux Users Group president Farhan Ahmed ’05 founded his group after noticing that quite a few students and faculty members use the Linux operating system.
“There is no help desk to provide assistance to those encountering difficulties on campus, so this organization will serve as a support group,” he says.
An electrical and computer engineering major from Utter Pradesh, India, Ahmed explains that Linux, unlike Windows software, may be downloaded free of charge from the Internet.
“I like being part of this group because it provides more choices,” he says. “The expression you see on people’s faces when you introduce them to Linux and tell them it’s free is great.”
Ahmed and fellow group members will sponsor Linux lectures on campus and plan to designate days when the program is installed on campus computers for free.
The Math Club meets weekly to solve problems in preparation for mathematics competitions, says the group’s president, Ekaterina Jager ’05, a double major in electrical & computer engineering and mathematics-economics from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
“This year, our organization hopes to sponsor talks and buy books that will be of interest to mathematics students,” she adds. “I love math and solving problems. This organization helps attract other students to the subject.”
Prospective student clubs or organizations may acquire Student Government recognition by preparing a constitution and providing a roster of 20 or more interested participants to the Student Organizations Committee of Student Government. Once a group is recognized, it may develop programs and activities, use campus facilities, and participate in Lafayette-sponsored leadership training opportunities.