New clubs are coming to campus! More ways for Stevens students to get involved both in-person and virtually next semester will be available, as many clubs are in the process of becoming recognized student organizations (RSOs). Three new clubs include the Philosophy Salon, the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL), and the Stevens Health and Wellness Club. These clubs along with others hope to seize the interest of the student body.
The Philosophy Salon aims to provide some light to students struggling with remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic. Offering biweekly student discussions, the club hopes to enable students to bring out their thoughts about philosophy with one another. When asked how the club would run, Garrett Kincaid, the Philosophy Salon’s founder said, “Each hour-long discussion is organic, self-contained, and student-run; there’s no curriculum.”
Kincaid said that he was approached by Stevens College of Arts and Letters Professor Michael Steinmann over the summer with the idea. Through Kincaid’s experience writing and self-publishing a book, he has gained a passion for writing and philosophy and hopes to inspire other students like him. He hopes that the club will be an opportunity for Stevens students to engage with their peers and have meaningful conversations.
Another new club is a chapter of the Young Americans for Liberty, a national organization that advocates for individual liberty. Meetings will consist of education and debates about political and philosophical topics to help the Stevens community become more involved in the civil discourse.
In a time of partisanship and divisiveness, the club’s founder and President, Emmanuel Garcia, wants to show that there’s a better way. “The Overton window of American politics shifts every year towards a bigger, costlier, and more powerful government, all while too many people continue to engage in divisive partisanship rather than focusing on good policy,” said Garcia. He hopes more members of the Stevens community can join their meetings and engage in great discussions on issues they truly care about. For more information, Garcia encourages people to check out their social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram as well as their Discord server.
The Stevens Health and Wellness Club is another new student organization that wants to inspire college students to better their wellbeing. “Not a health lecture, not a ‘eat this and not that’, no feeling bad about what makes you happy, and not a restricted or limited way of feeling best,” said club founder Marija Stojkoska. Once Stevens transitions back to mainly on-campus operations, the Health and Wellness club plans to host various events held from yoga sessions to meditation seminars.
Stojkoska was inspired to start the club after seeing how the significance of health and wellbeing is often overlooked, especially among college students. Academics are a priority, and eating well and staying active are “out of reach and a luxury,” noted Stojkoska. The Health and Wellness club hopes to change that.
These three clubs have faced immense challenges gaining student interest due to the coronavirus pandemic. While they plan to use social media to reach out to the student body and hold virtual meetings over Zoom, they are hopeful that a return to on-campus life in the near future will give them a chance to shine.
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