Student clubs at Contra Costa College are beneficial to students not only because they look good on a transcript to transfer, but also because they provide students with the opportunity to create a diverse network of people from different cultures, ideologies and economic backgrounds. 

And with 20 active clubs to choose from during the 2015 fall semester, each reflective of the diverse student populations on campus, the melting pot is overflowing. 

Student Life Coordinator Erika Greene said the interactions between students in different clubs transcend the typical lunchroom or yard cliques that they had grown used to in their various high schools. 

“With the diverse population at this college campus, reflected through the clubs, students get to collaborate with others and see that they are more alike than they are different,” Greene said. “You get to interact with people who are white, Latino, black, Middle Eastern, Asian and realize that in the real world the stereotypes that you see on TV are simply not true.” 

The Inter-Club Council’s weekly meetings in LA-105 on Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. for clubs to exchange ideas and collaborate on student life projects on campus is not the only time that the eclectic group of student clubs meets. 

ICC President Safi Ward-Davis said being a member of any of the groups teaches you to learn how to understand people from different backgrounds, and how to raise and  manage funds, write minutes and agendas while swapping ideas with other clubs.

Ward-Davis said a lot of freshman college students do not understand what it means to be part of a college club. 

“Last semester we had a few clubs who became inactive because their leaders were transferring and did not make sure that there were others to replace them,” she said. “The success of a club depends on its leaders and most students join them and graduate but don’t make the effort to promote new students to their club or create new clubs.” 

ASU Senator Nakari Syon agrees with Ward-Davis and said students have the opportunity to create new clubs and change their campus.

“There are a variety of diverse clubs on campus, but most are not designed for campus improvements, but are more social,” Syon said. “One club that I can think could change that would be an ecosystem club for students who care about our home (campus) environment and don’t want to see trash everywhere.”

Clubs that are currently active at CCC during the fall semester that reflect the various cultures on campus are the Black Student Union, Filipino Associated Student Union, International Student Club, La Raza Student Union Club, Gay Straight Alliance Club, Muslim Student Association Club and the Vietnamese Student Association Club. Other clubs include the Abilities Club, for students with disabilities, Alpha Gamma Sigma, an academic honors society, Business Club, Correction to College Club, for ex-convicts who are returning to college, Engineering and Math Club, EOPS Club, Gaming Guild Club, Human and Health Services Club, Puente Club, Society of Hispanic Engineers Club, Students in Action (Gateway to College), and the Writer’s Block Club.