By Taylor Gaudens and Amanda Pretulac
The new semester brings new ideas, and new student clubs on the verge of approval. Members from four of the new clubs explain their goals for the semester. For a complete list of campus clubs and organizations, visit the Student Organization Directory through the Campus Life section of the USFSP website.
Juggling Club
President: Lena Wray
The Juggling Club is for students with juggling skills, those who want to learn how to juggle and those who simply think juggling is cool. Juggling is a fun activity, but it also “stimulates your brain because you’re crossing left and right. It increases your cerebral cortex,” said President Lena Wray, who has juggled since second grade. Her father coaches the juggling team in her hometown of Key West.
Wray wants to share the fun with everyone. The officer positions are filled, the constitution is submitted and Wray is patiently anticipating approval. Her goal is for the club to be official by the middle of September.
Club meetings will consist of practicing, teaching members how to juggle, watching juggling videos and making friends. She hopes to take advantage of the high ceilings in the CAC and hold meetings on Mondays at 5 p.m. Once the CAC is closed, meetings will probably take place outside.
“I don’t want people to be intimidated when they see [the vice president] juggle nine clubs,” Wray said.
Cackle Task Force
Co-President: Andrea Inman
The Cackle Task Force is all about improv, but is still in the process of becoming an official club. Before the constitution is submitted, they need more people interested and willing to join the club.
The activities and meetings will model the show “Whose Line is it Anyway.” The co-president, Andrea Inman, will take on the role of Drew Carey and club members will be the performers.
“Each meeting will be its own small performance,” Inman said. Once the club gets approval for a play, the meetings will be more structured to practice for the performance.
And the eye-stopping club name? “We hope we will make people laugh, so we decided to go with that [name],” Inman said. She wants the club to perform evening shows in the Coquina Club or have performances on an outside stage.
The club’s focus is to help members become comfortable on stage, perform in front of people and have a fun, stress-free time. Inman anticipates that the club will become official by the end of October.
Harry Potter Club
President: Eric Romine
Member: Jennipher Tucy
Even though the Harry Potter books and films have wrapped up, students can still celebrate the series with the Harry Potter Club. “This club is a great opportunity for students to meet new people and appreciate the world of Harry Potter,” said President Eric Romine.
The inspiration for the new organization came from a recent visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal in Orlando. The club recently submitted its constitution, and they have several ideas in the works for the semester. “The club is more about having fun than a serious discussion about the series,” Romine said.
Keeping with the easy-going theme, club officers plan to serve Harry Potter themed food and beverages at meetings, like butter beer and butter beer cupcakes.
“The books have been an escape from reality for years and in a way we hope the club can provide a similar escape for students,” said member Jennipher Tucy.
Meeting times and event ideas are still to be determined, so in the meantime students can request to join the USFSP Harry Potter Club on Facebook.
Poker Club
President: Joey Catalano
Founder: Mark Lombardi-Nelson
Put on your game face for the new Poker Club. Students will be able to learn how to play the game, or bump up their skills for pro-level competition.
The club was founded by Student Government Vice President Mark Lombardi-Nelson, and will be led by Joey Catalano, president of the club. Meetings will be held bi-weekly and they plan to hold poker tournaments, with prizes.
