By Nathaniel Fryer

Staff Writer

Two new clubs are applying for Student Congress recognition. The new clubs are the Alma College PreVet Association and the Alma College Progressive Democrats.  

Last semester, Student Congress voted and approved five new clubs, including Short Stack, Alma College Gaming Guild, National Students Nursing Association and the Board Games Club.    

The Alma College Progressive Democrats was founded by Sam Nelson (’21), and a number of other progressive students, in order to get out the vote for the Michigan State Elections occurring in November of this year.  

Nelson says he, “hopes to support progressive causes in whatever capacity possible. A liberal arts campus like ours values action, and we hope to be a part of that.”  

If approved, the Alma College Progressive Democrats will be the eleventh chapter of the Michigan Federation of College Democrats, a statewide organization of liberal minded college students dedicated to progressive ideals like a single-payer healthcare, combatting climate change and promoting equal rights for all US Citizens.  

Lauren Kucharczyk (’19), is founding member of the Alma College PreVet Association. She believes that the association will “give other PreVet or Pre-health majors a group for resources since the school does not have official programs for these things.”  

The organization will provide students a skill based approach to achieving the mandatory 400 clinical hours required before veterinary school, by working with local veterinary clinics around Alma.  

Kucharczyk also stated that the process for becoming a recognized club was fairly easy, but you have to know where to look in the Student Congress Constitution, or potential campus organizations will be left in the dark.  

According to Student Congress Treasurer, Deve Wishart (’18), clubs are essential to Alma’s campus life because they work with the Alma community in providing philanthropy, and have an intrinsic educational value for students.  

“I do think that clubs are beneficial for the Alma community. Clubs may make our lives more hectic, but it allows us to apply ourselves to things that we believe are worthwhile,” stated Wishart.  

In order to apply to become a recognized club, the members must meet, formalize a constitution, and then send that proposed constitution into the Constitutional Committee. The Constitutional Committee then discusses the proposed constitution of a club, and votes on approving it.   

If the proposed constitution is approved, then those club representatives are invited to attend the next session of Student Congress. At that session, the club is then brought up and voted upon by Student Congress. If the vote passes, then the organization is officially recognized as a campus club, and given representation in Student Congress. 

Once a club is approved by Student Congress, they do not have a budget until the next school year, which is why so many organizations apply for contingency funds. Wishart works with club executives in order to ensure that each club is being held accountable for the financing that is appropriated to it.   

Wishart has also worked with college officials like Cassie Tennant, Director of Financial Services, to audit clubs and make sure that finances are being spent appropriately.  

By Nathaniel Fryer

Staff Writer

Black History Month was first celebrated in the United States on February 1970, at Kent State University in Ohio. Six years later, it was given federal recognition by President Gerald R. Ford.   

Black History Month has been celebrated at Alma College now for several years.  Black History Month is the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which happened on  January 15.   

Over Martin Luther King Jr. Week, presenters such as Naomi Tutu (daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu) were invited to speak at the college, and the Alma Choir and a few dancers performed in the chapel.  

Over the course of this month, there will be a number of student-led events that will be held on campus. The Multicultural Student Union, in collaboration with the Psychology Club, will be showing “For Colored Girls”, on February 15 at 7:30pm.  

In addition, the Diversity and Inclusion Office will be holding a series of events throughout the month, including two movie screenings on February 13 in SAC 113 and DOW L4 at 6:30pm. There will also be Black History Trivia on February 7 in the Thistle Room in SAGA from 11:30am-12:30pm.   

Many people know about important black leaders like Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King Jr., but not many know about people like George Washington Carver, Sojourner Truth or Congressman John Lewis. For that reason the Center  for Student Opportunity will have a display case that will feature less known (but equally as important) black politicians, artists, painters and athletes. This display will be up up throughout the month. 

“I feel like in today’s society, you have to have recognition for the events that blacks have participated in. Regardless of your race, it is a good idea for people to take a step back and look at our collective history as a nation,” said Khalee Simpson (’20). “Celebrating this month allows for people to take a minute and think about black history.”  

In the past, the advertisement of Black History Month was lacking. Since the new Diversity and Inclusion Director, Candy McCorkle, took office around a year ago, the advertisement has increased.  

“When I came last year, I don’t think [Black History Month] received the advertisement it should have gotten. Since then, I’ve been able to develop relationships with the local paper, and advertised about it,” she said. 

“In my role, I am working to make these events inclusive to everyone on campus, which is important because black history is America’s history.”   

Since the advertisement of these events has increased, attendance has been up. Some professors have been giving their students extra credit to attend these events, and athletes have also been encouraged to attend by their coaches.  

“I think that considering we go to a predominately white college it’s important to celebrate Black History Month so that people of color can celebrate their history,” says TiKilah Turner (’19), the Vice President of the Multicultural Student Union.  

“Black History Month is about unity within the black community, and giving recognition to our blackness. Our blackness is beautiful.”