College students find fun, educational outlet in clubs

For the past eight years, Barry Manilow and Xena the Warrior Princess have shared one thing in common: Jackie Young.

Young’s zeal for the ’70s music icon and the sword-wielding fantasy character inspired her to form two student clubs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2003 and 1998, respectively. The Manilow Menehune has 15 to 20 devoted student members, while Xenites Hawaii boasts 60.

Although Young graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and now works at UH-Manoa, she remains president of the two clubs she founded. She said she has suffered her fair share of raised eyebrows and "I feel sorry for you" looks over the years.

"When I’d get the scoffing it would hurt, but I’d just try to justify to people why I liked them," she said.

Providing an outlet for diverse interests can enhance a student’s college experience, said Mike Kockler, student life service associate at UH-Manoa.

"The key part is that students are working together, connecting with others outside of the classroom and expanding all learning opportunities," he said.

This semester UH-Manoa has about 200 student clubs, which are formally known as registered independent organizations, or RIOs. Funding opportunities are provided by the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii and the Student Activity and Program Fee Board.

Some clubs, like the Manilow and Xena groups, pursue pop culture interests, while others have a more academic bent or are focused on community service. Clubs in accounting, architecture, law and microbiology, for example, can help students prepare for careers, while others are linked to ethnic identity and religion.

Sports-related clubs include rugby, synchronized swimming and field hockey. Other groups draw fans of ballroom dancing, manga, drumming, punk rock, Japanese court music, cosplay and juggling.

"The outstanding thing about RIOs is that there’s such a wide variety of areas to develop yourself," Kockler said.

Mercedes Johnson, UH-Manoa student club organizer for the Waikiki Acrobatic Troupe, said, "There’s more to college than just going to college. Being in some sort of organization helps to find your place in the community and feel a part of the puzzle."

With about 50 members, the Waikiki Acrobatic Troupe meets Wednesday and Sunday nights in Studio 4 at the Stan Sheriff Center to practice everything from gymnastics to break dancing.

"With this troupe I’ve learned different skills that have widened my résumé," said Johnson, 23, a dance major. "This has been a great place to harness our art."

Campus clubs are places students can call home, said Makerusa "Mak" Porotesano, Chaminade University’s director of student activities and leadership.

"Students gain a lot of skills in the classrooms, but these organizations are a gateway for social interaction on campus," Porotesano said.

Chaminade University has 40 RIOs, up 10 from last year. Porotesano attributes the growth to more than just an increase in enrollment from 1,300 to 1,500 undergraduates this semester. He said more students are realizing the important role clubs can play in a student’s academic success.

"Students are soul-searching here in college, and we need to help push them to their full potential by breaking them out of their shells and outside of their bubble," he said. "It’s a holistic approach where these groups become outlets for both fun and studying hard."

Jacques Ambrose, president of the John A. Burns School of Medicine-American Medical Student Association at UH, said the group strives to promote a connection between future medical professionals and the community through service projects. The club has 30 or so members.

"If we want to truly learn about the effects of socioeconomic struggles on health, I believe we need to add the component of interacting with our underserved population in order to better advocate for them," he said.

Regardless of the nature of a campus club, Kockler said members learn valuable skills and have experiences that will benefit their lives in college and beyond.

"These organizations help students feel not so lost in a group and lend themselves to interpersonal opportunities," Kockler said. "It’s an ideal way to nurture and develop relationships."