Chabot's club activities on the rise

Most college students have a hard enough time balancing school with work, let alone trying to join a club on the side.

Lorenzo Hayas, a student at Chabot, says, "I would be very interested in joining clubs on campus. I feel like the one thing holding me back and I know most students would agree with me, is the lack of knowledge about clubs. I feel like there not well advertised.

"We could definitely use some more sponsored events and clubs that are specifically oriented around educational activities."

Most students come in for classes and leave right afterward. However, many students could derive some great benefits, both socially and educationally, from these extracurricular activities.

Demetrius Devera, interclub club council chairman, said, "Being a part of a club gives you the opportunity to make new friends which believe it or not is actually beneficial for most college students.

"If you just treat college as an in and out experience you won't get the true benefit of being in college. Plus, doing everything on your own makes going to college dull and boring."

Devera went on to say, "Networking with other students also gives you the chance to meet students in similar classes and form study groups that can help one in the long run.

"We try to make clubs as convenient for students as possible in terms of time. Most clubs start at around noon, which we found is most suitable for students. Of course we try to get input from students every day in terms of what is convenient for them. I do agree there is more we can do in terms of promotion and advertising; it's something we're working on. At the ASCC we try to get students to be active and successful in school."

Right now there are quite a few individual clubs that are on the rise this year in terms of membership and social activities. "We have the International Club which participates in social activities outside of school as well as the Black Student Union, which has done a lot of their activities on campus," said Devera.

One club that is really going all out with their activities is the Game Zone Recreation Club. "We try to be as active as possible," says Neal Trotter a member of Game Zone and Recreation Club. "Our biggest event is our upcoming Japanese animation convention, Kin-Yoobi Con, coming Aug. 9 at Chabot College. We will feature many activities.

"Seven music bands will be coming to perform, these bands play music based on sound from games and anime. We'll also feature a manga library. Manga is Japanese comic books. Several members will be bringing their collection.

"We will have vendors also selling anime merchandise such as DVDs, games, plush dolls, and posters. We will also have free video game play as well as video game tournaments.

"We will feature custom competitions in which participants dress up as their favorite anime or video game character.

"There will be panel discussions in which we will talk about specific video game and anime issues with attendees. There will be many other activities as well."

For more information check out the ASCC office for all general information on clubs and activities.