With 80+ clubs on the Elizabethtown College campus, there must be a set list of standards. With that comes the Office of Student Activities (OSA) and the annual club handbook they put out.
“The biggest thing I want people to know is that I’m not trying to hinder or limit what your club is doing. I’m trying to make sure you all have the correct connections and resources and that your event is as good as it can possibly be,” Assistant Director of Student Activities and Commuter Engagement Brooke Hollinger said in response to being asked the purpose behind the handbook and getting events and fundraising approved through her.
While most of the rules followed the precedent of the year prior, some were unexpected. Some did not concern most clubs, such as the ones regulating overnight travel. Club business cannot happen over the summer and although this rule is marked as “NEW” this year, this was set years ago to give students more time to have a better balance between their personal and academic lives. However, some could impact how clubs function.
Social justice, peacemaking and non-violence are stated within the handbook this year to follow College standards and to reiterate its importance. While in years prior, clubs were told to open all club meetings and events in adherence to the College Statement of Non-Discrimination, this year’s handbook explicitly states, “Etown College is rooted in social justice, peacemaking, and non-violence. Therefore, any group that registers for recognition must adhere to these same principles and values. Groups that are a part of, or affiliated with any local, regional, national or international organizations that are deemed hate or extremist groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Antidefamation League, the ACLU or NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) will not be recognized as their values run counter to the College’s, and cause harm to our community.” Recognized executive members must attend diversity training to obtain funds from Student Assembly.
Sophomore Elsa Woodarek felt “that Etown is a place that prides itself on these values through other groups such as CGUP (Center for Global Understanding and Peacebuilding), [so] it only makes sense to incorporate these values into clubs and organizations. As the official representative voice of all the students on campus, part of Student Assembly’s mission is to support diversity and inclusion initiatives and empower the student body to utilize resources equitably. As this process is upheld in future semesters, I feel that the positive impact will spread from clubs to the wider student body.”
As always, events must be approved by OSA, preferably in advance, especially as there are deadlines for posters and banners. Through further integration of the Blue Print program here on campus, clubs were advised to consider where their event falls within the program and advertise it as such. The goal behind this further integration is to make the Blue Print Program a standard for all events, to have more events scanned in through Jays App and make it so students get credit for the things they are already doing.
Another change in club approval is that for events at the Mosaic House for certain clubs (such as GSA, Hillel, NOIR and other identity important clubs), the approval for the event is to be sent to Director of Diversity, Equity and Belonging Darcey Mills, not Hollinger.
“The adherence to social justice, peacemaking and non-violence are extremely good things. I also think the new limitations provide more hoops to jump through for clubs to plan events, however, it could be beneficial for all. At this point, it is a waiting game to see how difficult and time-consuming the new system is,” sophomore, secretary of Sock & Buskin and music director of WWEC Em Clark said.
While changes to the system require a period of adjustment, it is too early to determine whether the adjustment will be an effective one. Any clubs or students should keep in mind that the handbook changes every year and that Hollinger (hollingerbrooke@etown.edu or in BSC 255) will take into account any feedback or concerns expressed by students.
