The Global Citizens Action Network, Animal Rights Club, International Students Organization, Hellenic Student Association, Film Club, and the Six Gents Sketch Comedy group are the newest additions to campus life at Providence College.

At last week’s regular weekly meeting, PC’s Student Congress discussed and voted on the resolutions for the proposed clubs.  Before voting took place, Clubs and Organizations Chair Sean Jones '10 made a brief statement. He urged the group to view the clubs as six different organizations with different goals. Jones encouraged Congress to take this into consideration before deliberating and voting. 

The Animal Rights Club, International Students Organization, and the Film Club were passed unanimously and without much discussion, but the others were thoroughly discussed before Congress, with students making their case for each new club.  First up was the Global Citizens Action Network, which was presented by Sophia Georgeo ’09.  This club, sometimes known as the "Global Studies Club," is a proposed organization whose aim is to be socially conscious about issues such as genocide, the green movement, and other global events.  "This club will offer the time, space, and support to anyone who is interested in discussing and learning about current events," said Georgeo.

When Peter Poutroubis ’10 presented the Hellenic Student Association, he said that the club is a way for Greek students to come together in order to share their culture and identity with each other. At first there was a discussion about the club's name and whether it should include the word "Greek" in order to familiarize students at events such as involvement fairs. 

Representative Katie Tripp '12 worried that some students may not know the meaning of Hellenic. Jones defended the Hellenic aspect of the title and warned Congress members against the phrase "Greek" in this context.  "If there's a Greek club someone may think it may mean Greek life, as in fraternities and sororities, which is something that our campus does not and probably will not ever have," said Jones.  After a motion to vote, the resolution for the proposed club passed.

After discussion and voting was completed each of the six proposed clubs passed. The clubs will be trialed before they are permanently implemented on campus and receive allocations. The newly approved clubs are a symbol that student activities are thriving on campus. As interests and issues are raised, students join together to form clubs and organizations through a democratic process.   For more information on student clubs and organizations, visit the   Student Activities web page .