The two-day event, was on campus Wed and Thurs, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with enthusiastic club members trying to get students to join their respective clubs. Each organization marched around campus promoting what their club was about.
Club Council President André Necochea was present at the event filling up orange buckets with snacks for students who signed up with a club. Club members were directed to Necochea when there was an issue or if they were in need of help and advice.
“There are very successful clubs right now like the honor societies club,” Necochea said. “There are also brand new clubs this semester like S.T.A.S.H. and F.E.A.R. Last semester we only had 48 clubs but this semester there we’re over 50 clubs out there and I know of some that aren’t there now so I expect more. I hope I’ll be able to handle it.”
Students Against Students Hunger (S.T.A.S.H) is a club for students who are struggling with a lack of nutrition for various reasons. Alex Zadeh, a club member of S.T.A.S.H., explained that this club is extremely important because food is a necessity when it comes to being a successful student.
“Our mission is to end Pierce College’s student hunger on campus because there are a lot of students who don’t know where their next meal is going to come from,” Zadeh said. “We want to open a food pantry at least twice a day where students can access food.”
Isabel Dorado, a student who has been at Pierce for a year and a half, already had prior knowledge on what the club was about. Dorado was interested in S.T.A.S.H. once she heard about their movement in donating canned food.
“I know the struggle of not being able to afford food,” Dorado said. “I want to be a part of something where I will be able to help others. I think this club is very good for students who are trying to get an education and even if they don’t have the money we have something here to help them with like food.”
Face Everything and Rise (F.E.A.R) is an organization focused on empowering students. Pierce student, Alex Garcia, F.E.A.R. club leader reached out to the ASO, promoting her club idea of F.E.A.R. and spoke to the advisor Laura Wong who then helped her start her organization.
Mihair Hijra, a club member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Club (AGS), explained to students that to join this club students must have a 3.0 GPA and complete 150 points worth of volunteer work to obtain a reward of AGS memorandum on his or her transcript.
“We help the homeless in local valley homeless shelters and volunteer for work at Pierce like Town Hall,” Hijra said. “In Town Hall we talked about certain issues like immigration, war, or the economy. This club is very fun because you go out and interact with different people, help out the community, do activities at Pierce, and always have someone to talk too.”
A future activity AGS will be contributing in is beach cleaning, aligning with the goals of another new club called Save the Beach. Save the Beach club is an environmental organization led by Carolina Guzman.
“While we are raising money, we will be working on recycling programs and information sessions to raise awareness on the environment here on campus,” Guzman said. “When you’re going to the beach and having fun you don’t see the behind the scenes because you’re enjoying yourself, but when you’re picking up trash you realize how much can end up in the ocean.”
