Every semester, during the first couple of weeks of the semester, students are provided the opportunity to discover and join a variety of clubs. These clubs are student-organized and promote mainly during Club Rush. Kristen Robinson, Associated Student of Moorpark College advisor said that Club Rush is an opportunity for students to experience the variety of activities provided by Moorpark. This year, Moorpark College has an estimated 45 clubs established, according to Robinson. Here are a few of the clubs that the Student Voice spoke to.

Associated Students of Moorpark College

ASMC is the board representing the student on campus and making sure their opinions and concerns are being heard.

“We set up everything that goes on for this campus, an example is events like today,” said Anise Dhanjal, Director of Personal Relations.

In the past, some of the events they have held are days like De-Stress Day, Earth Day and events like today which was Club Day on Raider Walk.

The event that sounded like it had the most impact to them and all the students on campus was De-Stress Day. This is a day during finals week where they have companies from all over Ventura County help students during finals. Last fall about 20 dogs were brought to campus that people could walk with around or they can just sit within between finals. They also walk around campus handing out coffee for students in the Library and down Raider Walk.

For up and coming events visit their website.

— Phoebe Jackels and Mano Baghjajian

Child Development Club

It may not sound interesting to some people, but in reality, the Child Development Club is doing a lot of great things with the preschool here on campus.

“We are working to fix the garden at the preschool,” said President Serena Sanchez.

Sanchez said this club wants to expand more in working with the children who are in the preschool on campus. They meet every first Wednesday of the month but they may be changing it to accommodate everybody’s schedules in the group.

The club has conferences they go to every month to learn more about what child development means.

–Phoebe Jackels and Mano Baghjajian

Dance Club

The Dance Club is a vibrant community that allows its members to express themselves through movement, regardless of skill level.

Jared Cardiel, the Vice President of the club, said, “We enjoy learning and teaching all styles of dance, and both beginners and experienced dancers are welcomed.”

Students who join can expect a fun, supportive environment. “We are all like family; we rely on and support each other,” notes Cardiel.

The dance club also holds flash mobs for major holidays, including Halloween and our upcoming Multicultural Day. They meet twice a week on Monday and Wednesday, from 12:00 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.

–Arianna Arias and Natalie Hyman

Film Club

The Film Club brings movie-watching to a whole new level. Club member and Social Media Club officer Elaina Marino discussed how the film club operates in order to create a fun and interactive experience for all majors.

During these monthly club meetings, students watch and critique the nominated movie. This month, the film club is creating an “Oscar Ballot” that allows students to vote on who will win each category. The student who selects the most winners will receive a $25 gift card. Film Club will meet next on Monday, February 4 from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. to watch “The Silence of The Lambs”.

–Arianna Arias and Natalie Hyman

The FLeX Club

The FLeX Club is the fitness learning club on campus, working to make exercise fun for its members. They hold sponsored events where they meet once a month to do fitness activities like hiking, obstacle courses, and a challenge to do five short exercises in a minute.

“We don’t want to make it too specific like working out with weights,” Angel Medina said. “We wanna make it more fun.”

After these events, the sponsors sometimes offer free stuff for club members which is currently made up of all Kinesiology majors. The next club event is Ultimate Frisbee which has been scheduled for Thursday, January 31 and is open to all club members.

–Tessa Sever and Ashton Blatz

International Student Organization

Moorpark College’s International Student Organization has students from all around the world come together to educate, socialize, and experience the different cultures of each member. Current members come from countries such as France, Russia, Japan, Africa, just to name a few.

President Alexis De Landes, 19, says the club offers events and meetings where you can meet people from different countries and learn about different cultures. The club encourages students who aren’t international to join.

“It’s a very nice community,” Landes said. “You get to know lots of people and we get to hang out together and have fun.”

The first meeting is on Wednesday, January 30 at 3:30 in the International Office in Fountain Hall and meets about twice a month. Email [email protected] or follow the club’s Instagram account @moorparkcollege.iso for more information and updates on events.

–Margot Rowe and Luis Miron

Nature’s Finest Club

Nature’s Finest at Moorpark College is an environmentally friendly club dedicated to gardening and spending time in the outdoors.

Headed by President Mikyla Maglente, club meetings take place on Fridays and Saturdays at the Student Garden on campus. The Student Garden, located by the baseball fields and are marked by a red picket fence, is an open space available to all students.

Every member receives a garden bed and all seeds and tools are provided. Members participate in activities such as monthly hikes, clean-ups, planting, harvesting, and learning about growing healthy and organic foods. The club welcomes everyone to come to visit and relax, meditate, or even study.

Next club meeting: Friday, January 25 or Saturday, January 26

For more information regarding the club and upcoming meeting dates, please visit their website or find them on Instagram @naturesfinestclub.

–Mariella Aguleria and Emily Ledesma

Spectrum Club

The Spectrum Club is the LGBT+ club on campus and consists of members from all different backgrounds and majors.

“Our main goal is to make sure our campus is safe for LGBT+ students, faculty, staff, and allies through education and support,” Jude Goodman, president of the club, said.

The club meetings usually consist of discussing LGBT+ issues or doing activities like arts and crafts to de-stress. They also speak on campus when asked to by professors. The club meets from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of every month.

–Tessa Sever and Ashton Blatz

Turning Point USA

Turning Point USA is a new club at Moorpark College who hopes to bond students that have similar conservative views.

Since the club is part of a non-profit organization with an activist network, they are not affiliated with the Republican party. The club is open to all students, not only those driven by a political background but those that are passionate for the fundamentals of freedom, free markets, and limited government.

“The first meeting is today at 3 p.m. in front of the Academic Building,” says Cameron Clark, a member of the club. All are welcomed to join, the club hopes to expand their network through political figures and advocates of the same social principles.

— Cytlalli Salgado and Dani Romero

Vegan Club

The Moorpark College Vegan Club represents the “social justice movement for animals, humans, and the environment,” explained club president, Meagan Corwin.

Corwin is a nutrition major at Moorpark College who wants to explain to students the benefits of living a vegan lifestyle.

The club functions as an open conversation for students to share their passion and motivation to keep up with veganism.

Corwin explained that the club is open for everyone who is curious or trying to overcome any barriers to becoming vegan. “Most of the students in the club aren’t vegan,” Corwin said.

Since there are no specific details regarding the next meeting, for more information on the club’s features here is their Instagram @Moorparkcollegeveganclub.

—Cytlalli Salgado and Dani Romero

Veterans Alliance Club

Returning home can be difficult for veterans.

The Veterans Alliance Club is here to help. When a veteran joins the club, they’ll be matched with another student veteran in the same major here. This ensures the student they are matched with can help by showing them which classes to take towards their potential degree.

“We want them to feel like a student in a community,” said club member Spencer Devins.

Founded in Fall 2018, the club’s first major project was the 9/11 memorial. Moorpark College and the Veterans Alliance Club held it on Raider Walk. Volunteers read out the names of the victims for students to pay their respects.

In only their second semester, club President Zachary Barclift has big plans to help the Veterans Alliance Club maximize their members’ potential.

“Our three main goals are advocacy, educate, and contact,” Barclift said.

Advocacy means representing veterans to the community. They will then educate the community about veterans. Finally, they hope to bring the veterans community back home into the Moorpark community.

“Our club is here to help with mentorship and networking for veterans who are coming back to school,” Devins said.

–Danny Stipanovich and Brandon Zamora