On Thursday, Jan. 30, Brookdale students attended the Involvement Fair at the Navesink rooms in the SLC. They were served warm churros with hot chocolate and were free to visit dozens of tables, each promoting a BCC club. For instance, The Current’s staff was on hand to let students know they can send articles to the student newspaper to have them published.
Student Life & Activities holds an Involvement Fair at the start of each Spring and Fall semester. Any club can register to have a table even if the club is just getting started. Students can also join clubs throughout the semester.
After the end of pandemic lockdowns and a mass return to in-person classes, club activity is back in full swing. Last semester, bulletin boards in the academic buildings on the Lincroft campus were filled with posters to join clubs or attend club activities. Students who wished to be part of more than two clubs often have to limit themselves since most club meetings take place during college hour, which takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
During the involvement fair, The Current talked to two clubs about their futures. The Car Club – one of the most active clubs on campus – and the Pokémon Go club – a brand-new club.
According to Car Club Vice President Param Singh, the club usually has between 15 and 20 members attend each meeting. The group is also very actice on social media, such as Instagram and Snapchat, as well.
Singh described the club as one open to anyone interested in cars. Meetings are not only focused on discussions about automobiles; in fact, the club has hosted events educating students on such skills as how to change a tire. Although Singh said they would like to do more events like this for the next semester, the cold weather is currently holding them back.
On the other hand, the Pokémon Go club has recently been created. President Sierra Celiberti talked about the stress of the founders before the start of the fair and the anxiety of possibly not being able to entice enough people. But this fear was conquered when nearly halfway through the fair, about 20 names were written on the sign-up sheet.
Weekly meetings for the club will take place soon, and although there is not a concrete plan for how the club will do activities, most of it might take place on Discord. Celiberti stated that this would allow for members to contact each other quickly and play the game outside of Brookdale.
During the Spring Semester, clubs often begin to think about trips. Most will hold fundraisers over the Fall and Spring semesters, along with getting a few funds from Brookdale. During the spring as well, club leadership begins to shift as some members prepare to graduate.
Celiberti of the Pokémon Go Team said that they are looking to go to Pokefest 2025. It won’t be held until the Fall semester in New York, while there will be one held in what would be this Spring semester but in California.
As for the Car Club, Singh said that they were looking to head to the Auto Museum of New York. Last semester, the Car Club hosted plenty of bake sales in the SLC, and if more are done this semester, they have a strong chance of the nearly 30 members heading into the Big Apple.
