The Associate Students of Linfield College will vote at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22 on club charters for a Spanish club and a Celiac Disease Educational club.
The “Celiac Disease Foundation U Linfield College” was formed this year, however, Spanish club has existed for some time. This year it was realized that only Spanish Club did not have formal recognition by the ALSC.
“[Spanish club] existed and people were meeting, but we realized that they weren’t formally chartered. They were a group of students functioning as a club, they just didn’t have recognition by ASLC and access to [ASLC] funding,” senior Annika Yates club director for ASLC said.
Spanish club was granted a temporary charter by ASLC, the permanent charter was overlooked after the initial six-week trial period and never transferred.
“Once [a club is] chartered you get a temporary charter for six weeks. Your six weeks are basically [ASLC] giving you all the same funding and opportunities as regular clubs have. Just to kind of show that you have interest, you have a couple meetings, maybe an event to show that you have support and that it’s going to be a club that’s sustainable for the long-term,” Yates said.
“Toward the end of the six weeks we take a look at the progress and the Senate votes on if they want to give a permanent charter,” Yates said.
If students have ideas for clubs, they can fill out charter packets found on the ASLC forms and resources page on the Linfield website.
Once the charter packet is completed, students then present their case to the student Senate.
“The Senate actually has a club support committee and the committee reviews all of the club charters and makes a recommendation to Senate, if they want to approve [the club] or not,” Yates said.
Students are required to have at least four members to form a club. Of those four, there must be an appointed president and vice-president along with a mandatory faculty adviser.
The Celiac disease educational club is affiliated with the Celiac Disease Foundation, thus the formal title “Celiac Disease Foundation U Linfield College.”
The club’s mission is, “to provide a support network for students with celiac disease, gluten-intolerance, or those who are curious about eating gluten-free. To help spread awareness about celiac disease and gluten intolerance. And, finally, to help raise money on behalf of the Celiac Disease Foundation to help fund research and advocacy,” senior Hallie Himmelreich, president of the club, said by email.
“Since this is a food-related club, all activities will revolve around food in some way. Some of the activities we have thought of are potlucks— gluten-free of course, sponsored trips to gluten-free friendly restaurants, bake sales to fund raise and cooking tutorials for those new to eating gluten-free,” Himmelreich wrote.
The Celiac Disease Foundation club welcomes all students who want to learn about eating gluten-free and is looking for students interested in leadership positions. For more information about the club, contact Himmelreich at [email protected].
Spanish club’s vision statement, “Is that we want to inspire interest in and to increase knowledge about culture in Spanish-speaking cultures,” senior Jessica Calderon-Duyck, a member of the club, said by email.
Some of the main activities of Spanish club include: learning to cook Spanish foods from a variety of Spanish speaking countries; celebrating ethnic holidays; and attending culture-based events.
“It is really a club that could go in many directions and we hope the members will give input so we can lead the club in the direction of their interest,” Calderon-Duyk wrote.
Spanish club is not exclusive to students who speak Spanish. Anyone with an interest in the culture of Spanish-speaking countries is welcome. For more information about the club, contact Jessica Calderon-Duyk at [email protected].
Ryan Morgan / Senior reporter
Ryan Morgan can be reached at [email protected].
