For those who are earning a 3.5 GPA or higher, Phi Theta Kappa membership can be a springboard to scholarship. “The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students,” their website says.
If you are considering joining Phi Theta Kappa, do not let the jargon scare you away. Laughs went around the table at their Oct 14 meeting as some group members attempted to state the full title of their honors society. “We are Alpha Sigma Upsilon of the Rocky Mountain Cascade Region of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society,” clarified student representative KC Perley.
Members will not be asked to recite the full title to be acknowledged.
On a more serious note, Chapter President Jantyne Bunce is looking into the possibility of setting up a scholarship fund for students who cannot afford the $85 membership fee. This will take time, but this topic was given the most analysis at the meeting.
Phi Theta Kappa is also planning to restore and set up the UCC community garden in plots for different campus groups. The group agreed thought that the children from the Ford Family Center would almost surely love to have a place to learn firsthand about growing plants.
The UCC chapter has dedicated its required annual research project to the topic of waste management.
Phi Theta Kappa’s adviser is Marjan Coester. Her office line can be reached by calling (541) 440-7749. If you would like to go to a meeting yourself, head to the cafeteria on Fridays at noon.
Geology Club
The Geology Club is one of the newer clubs to the UCC campus. This club is open for those who would like to share some knowledge about geology, learn some basics while, or even those who just want to say “metamorphic” when the moment is right.
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary are the three major classifications of rock. Rocks that are igneous are formed as of lava or magma cools and hardens. Sedimentary rocks, intuitively, are made through the hardening, compression, and cementing of various sediments. Metamorphic rocks are made out of existing rocks that undergo extreme pressure and heat.
The Geology Club is planning a trip to the Glide Petroglyphs this year. You can reach the Geology Club at their Friday meetings at noon in the upstairs conference room of the new Bonnie J. Ford Health, Nursing, & Science Building. You can also contact the Geology Club adviser Karen Carroll at (541) 440-4654.
Debate Club
The Debate Club met on October 13 to discuss the club’s plans for this academic year. Debate Club President Chris Livermore suggested an idea for bringing in students who may not normally think of debate as a practice worth their time. “I would like to have two topics per meeting, one less serious topic per meeting,” Livermore stated.
Both Livermore and Vice President Kaya Maliglig stressed the importance of formal argument in a modern American context. “I don’t think we should do the same thing each time,” suggested Maliglig. The idea of varying meetings with round table discussions as well as one-on-one debates was discussed as a potential solution.
The Debate Club is looking to speak on topics from cats versus dogs to the American two-party system. Not everyone has to speak on each topic; if you are interested in just trying to explain why ninjas are better than pirates to the world, you will still be welcome if you wait your turn to talk.
Head to 12 Jackson Hall on Thursday at 2 p.m. to take part in a meeting. Contact the Debate Club adviser Dustin Crosby at (541) 440- 4306.
If you are interested in starting your own club, visit http://umpqua. edu/clubs-organizations and download the club petition. All clubs must read and approve the Affirmative Action statement. This can be found in the UCC catalog. New clubs must collect 30 student signatures in order to be considered by ASUCC. A student representative must also attend a weekly ASUCC meeting in order to be recognized as an active club. Clubs are not required to have an adviser, but it is strongly recommended, according to the website.
Photo provided by Vladimir Sovyak /The Mainstream