Club Rush

In an effort to attract new members, campus clubs held their spring Club Rush on March 2 in the Campus Center Mall.

More than 20 clubs and organizations came out to set up tables to promote themselves and raise awareness from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

With a variety of clubs represented, Club Rush was a great opportunity for Citrus students to find something to get involved in.  Club Rush will also take place March 3 at 10 a.m.

Club types varied from serious agendas, like the Green Committee, Gay-Straight Alliance, and Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (SETA), to clubs uniting people via hobbies, interests and leisure, like the Anime Connection and Gamers Unite Tomorrow Society (GUTS).

With lots of officers and members transferring after this semester, several clubs are still waiting on the turnout after Club Rush to post official meeting dates and times.

In addition, officer positions are also open at several clubs.

“Lots of board members are graduating and transferring, so we are definitely trying to gain more members and get people involved,” said Christian Ramirez, 21-year-old economics major from Duarte, who is also a member of Phi Theta Honor Society.

The Phi Theta Honor Society aims to promote academic achievement while raising awareness of different social issues, like human trafficking. 

The Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society (AGS) also plans to be more proactive in community events. 

“Come out, get involved, and get good grades,” said president Becky Johnston, RN student.  Johnston plans to facilitate a Haiti benefit fundraiser in early April to get all clubs to work collectively and raise awareness while also doing community service.

AGS meets every Monday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Honors Lounge in the CFI Building.

Another academic organization, the Umoja program, aims to provide mentors and improve study and employment skills for students of various ethnicities.

“Umoja was originally for African-American students, but now we’re also reaching out to students of other ethnicities,” said Monica Peters, women’s basketball assistant coach.

Umoja is also open to collaborating with other campus clubs to support and mentor students who are in need of educational assistance.  Umoja meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Counseling Department.

In addition, the Green Committee also hopes to work with other clubs in order to promote eco-friendly awareness.

Green Committee founder and president Lorro Hjelm, 21-year-old theology major from  Claremont, plans to advance the club as a sub-committee within the student government to provide a school-wide effort to use more environmentally friendly products.

Other clubs like Sexploration and the Cosmetology Club are also working together to coordinate fundraising events to support certain causes like the “Tents for Haiti” drive currently sponsored by the Photography Club.

The first day of the Club Rush had a positive turn out. Many students signed-up and sought out information on new and previously active clubs.

Lauren Watts, 19-year-old business major from La Verne, enjoyed her first Club Rush at Citrus.

“I didn’t expect to sign up for any clubs today, but after learning about some of their causes, I can’t wait to get involved,” Watts said.