Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Club Involvement Fair Sparks Interest

Point Park University’s Student and Convocation Center was full of excitement and high hopes as a number of the university’s clubs and organizations gathered to recruit new members last Wednesday.About 100 students attended the event, which was held on the 7th floor of Point Park’s new Student Center, formally the YMCA.“We moved it to an area that most students were eager to see and they wanted to really get to know the space, and so it was a wonderful place to have it,” said Maryn Shreve, administrative coordinator for campus life.  Many groups are excited to make changes in their clubs and see membership growth and are busy arranging the first meetings of the semester and organizing events.According to the records of United Student Government, Point Park currently has 34 active student-run clubs and organizations ranging from academic to interest based, to community service based.About 18 groups were represented at the fair including College Students in Broadcasting, the Green & Gold Society, Campus Activities Board, Residence Hall Association, United Student Government, PRSSA, Commuter Affairs, Strong Women Strong Girls, WPPJ, Cheerleading, John P. Harris Society, S.A.V.E, The Body, Not Quite There Improv, Human Rights/Equality, IMPULSE, U-View and En Veux Modeling Troupe.The Human Equality/Rights group, (He/R) formerly know as the Feminist Forum, is broadening the scope of the issues they cover in their meetings and events, focusing on equality for all humans.Within the first hour of the Involvement Fair, they had 12 new members signed up on their roster, to add to the returning ten members from previous semesters.He/R hopes to raise awareness in the university community about gender equality as well as sexual equality issues, including concerns of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.  “I think people have this understanding of gender in really concrete forms and often large institutions don’t really pay attention to individuals, to how they are different,” said co-head Kyle Nevel, junior cinema and digital arts major concentrating in screenwriting.“You know, you don’t need to fit into something you don’t want to fit into. Be however you want to be and just own it,” co-head of He/R and junior psychology major, Robin Weimer added.A different type of interest group, Not Quite There Improv, was represented at the Club Involvement Fair by co-president and senior cinema major, Hannah Grubow.The club is looking to expand in order to include all types of comedy, such as improvisation and stand up comedians as well as writing and sketch comedy this semester.  They also hope to reach the entire Pittsburgh community with their monthly comedy nights, not just Point Park.Last year, almost all of the Improv Comedy Nights held were filmed by fellow Point Park students, and this year they aim to do the same.Grubow says that what she enjoys most about the group is that it helps her to unwind after a long day and have fun in her spare time.“It’s such a creative outlet and like expressing yourself however you want, like that’s what it is, it’s about making it up as you go so … there are some days where I’ll go to Improv and I’ll be like ‘this is the worst day ever,’ and I’ll get back and be like ‘wow I feel so much better,” said Grubow.While there are many reasons why students may chose to get involved in a club, Shreve would encourage all students to join an organization that can help them apply the information they learn from their studies.    “ I think that it helps to supplement your education and allows you to use the tools that you learn in the classroom, outside the classroom,” Shreve said.    She believes that clubs can also help students build their resumes.“You want to create resume material that is unique to yourself, it shows your personality, it shows what you’re capable of and it shows that you are driven to take those extra steps outside of the classroom and really take a professional standpoint in your life,” she said. To learn how to get involved, and for all the latest information on club meetings and activities, read the “check this” blast weekly email. Students interested in forming a new club or organization at Point Park should contact Student Activities in the campus life office or the United Student Government. 

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