Clubs encompass plaza, promote friendly rivalry

By Roxana Amparo, Editor-in-Chief

A walk through the Campus Center Plaza on Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 presented a variety of Fall Festival-themed club booths and crowds of curious students during the annual Club Rush event.

Music, games, candy, corn on the cob, prizes and even a space for students to wrestle in sumo costumes added to the festive atmosphere of the event.

The 26 Contra Costa College clubs including the International Student Club, Health and Human Services Club, La Raza Student Union, COPA club, Puente club, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, CC Democratic Society, Students in Action club, Engineering and Math Club, Lions Club, Waves, Chinese Student Union and Students for Education Reform were all in attendance.

“It’s nice to see all of the clubs come together and to see what they have to offer to students,” Students in Action club President Courtney Chappell said.

The event is put on by Inter-Club Council members and club ICC representatives as a way for clubs to share information with other students.

“(Club Rush) brings awareness about clubs and there is a sense of group and it’s a lot of fun,” Community Organizing and Political Action (COPA) club ICC representative Sheldon McV said.

Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said some clubs had canopies outside and the others camped inside of the Fireside Hall.

As it began to rain on Oct. 27, clubs located outside had canopies to protect themselves from the rain, and those  inside of the Fireside Hall were safe from it.

“We are kind of forced in here because of the weather. The only thing about the Fireside Hall is that there is trouble retaining heat,” McV said.

With the completion of the Campus Center Project this semester, Club Rush was held in the center of the campus, closer to students.

Vice President of Club Affairs Jose Arebalo said there were two contests that the clubs had a chance to win: the table with the most signatures and best table.

Chappell said this is the third time SIA has been a part of Club Rush and likes the “friendly competition” that happens during the event as the club with most signatures wins a prize.

Student signatures help club members increase their numbers, and Chappell said they will start sending out emails to those students who signed up for their emailing list.

Liberal arts, math and science major Cody Poehnelt said he feels there is a disconnect between the campus and students, but Club Rush makes students feel integrated to CCC.

Black Student Union ICC Representative Desire King said, “The BSU ended, but we’re trying to revive it. We are trying to promote African-American classes, culture — and you don’t have to be African-American to join the club.”

King said they are in the “re-starting stages” and want to come up with a plan to uplift people in the community.

“Seeing that there was no BSU, me and my friends decided to brings it back,” she said.

Drama club member Oz Herrera-Sobal said the goal of the club is to teach open mindedness. “I think a lot of people think drama classes are not important.”

He said, referring to the Drama Club, “We are trying to do this, to tell everyone, here is this new thing.”

Health and Human Services Club President Denise Mills said her club is a major-based club. “Students who are HHS majors can be part of this club. We volunteer to help the homeless and other forms of volunteering in the community.”