Clubs: all that and a bag of Brazil Nuts

At the University of Pittsburgh’s Activities Fair Sunday, Aug. 24, students might expect to… At the University of Pittsburgh’s Activities Fair Sunday, Aug. 24, students might expect to see hundreds of student organizations ranging from the 4-square club to the Brazil Nuts Portuguese club.

Pitt’s approximately 350 student groups bring together students with common academic interests, political views, athletic abilities and pretty much any other similarities you might think of.

Some of Pitt’s most popular student organizations are Black Action Society, Asian Student Association, Rainbow Alliance, Hillel Jewish University Center, Campus Women’s Organization, College Democrats and College Republicans.

New to the list of student organizations are Cricket at Pitt, the Gaelic Athletics Club, History Club, Persian Panthers and Humans vs. Zombies.

Humans vs. Zombies is a campus-wide game of tag with a zombie theme. Participants are identified by bandanas on their arms if they are humans and on their heads if they become zombies. Shane Price, the vice president of HVZ, said that anyone who enjoys shooting with Nerf guns or foam noodles can play.

“I think one of the things is that when you reach college, you try to reach your inner child again,” said Price. “It’s pretty much like back in grade school. It’s like tag but it takes two weeks to play it.”

In addition to HVZ, Pitt has many other recreational clubs. Many of Pitt’s student groups give student athletes the opportunity to play the sports they love without the pressures of NCAA-level competition. However there are a few cases in which clubs are the only option for athletes at Pitt.

Pitt’s club tennis team is an example of one such club. The club tennis team is the only option at Pitt for men. The University has a women’s team, and the 25-member co-ed group must compete with Pitt women’s tennis for players.

President of Pitt’s club tennis team, Pat Sweny, said that it’s a little problematic holding practice because Pitt doesn’t have tennis courts. The club practices three times a week at Monroeville’s Club 4 Life.

“I bet most people at Pitt don’t know we have a club team since we don’t have courts on campus. Most of the schools we compete against have courts because interest in tennis is so prevalent,” said Sweny.

Despite the obstacle of Pitt not having tennis courts, the dedicated members of the tennis club gave Pitt the best showing ever of any rookie team at last year’s sectionals at Lehigh University, placing sixth out of 20 teams.

A few of Pitt’s other recreational clubs are the Badminton Club, Panther Paintball Club and Hooligans Soccer Club.

Some other Pitt organizations focus on advocacy. Among these groups are Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee Growth and Empowerment, Students Taking Action Now: Darfur and Amnesty International.

Amnesty International members often petition politicians about hot-button issues, but the group is also known for holding the Jamnesty concert and movie screenings, said President Alexandra Schmittlein. The group works to release people who’ve been imprisoned for their beliefs, race, religion, etc.

“This makes people feel like they’re a part of something. Obviously, one person doing something won’t make a lot of difference, but we write letters to authority figures and petition. That’s what matters,” said Schmittlein.

Complementing the advocacy groups are the service groups. Pitt has 32 services groups. Many of these are local chapters of national campaigns, such as One, Engineers for a Sustainable World, Red Cross and the environmental group Free the Planet. Pitt also has 22 religious student organizations including Cornerstone Christian Ministry, Chabad House and Some of God’s Children Gospel Choir.

Most groups receive at least some funding from the Student Government Board, which allocates about $2.4 million to Student Organization Resource Center, or SORC, groups. SGB receives that budget from the student activities fee all students pay with their tuition bills.

SORC employee Natalie Swabb said the only requirements to form a student organization are 10 members, a full-time faculty adviser, a president, a vice president, a business manager and a constitution. For those unsatisfied with the selection of clubs at Pitt, the requisites for new student groups are not demanding. As a result there are new organizations forming at Pitt every year.