WCC loosens restrictions on student clubs

By ETHAN BERMAN
Staff Writer

Graphic by Jessica Pace | Washtenaw Voice

WCC is allowing the formation of student clubs with less strict requirements than previous semesters. This makes them easier to start during the current winter and upcoming summer sessions.

Now may be an excellent opportunity to form that mariachi band club WCC has always dreamed of, or perhaps a Rubik’s Cube speed-racing club.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, WCC required four officers (members of the student body) and one adviser (full-time staff, or full- or part-time faculty member) to fill out a student club registration form.

Now, clubs require only two officers and one adviser.

Veronica Boissoneau, the coordinator of Student Organizations at WCC, approves all the club registration forms. She reviews the documents, checking each student’s GPA, credit hours, and each club’s mission statement.

“Some students in the past have complained about this beast of a registration form, but it’s needed, and they only have to do it once per semester,” says Boissoneau.

Starting a club at WCC requires Boissoneau’s approval. She runs daily operations and works behind the scenes making sure all club events go well. “I’m basically the go-to for all clubs,” she said.

Since the college’s initial lockdown, the number of clubs has declined, reaching 18 official student clubs, according to Boissoneau.

List of currently active student clubs/organizations at WCC | Student Development and Activities

“Usually, we’d be sitting around 40 different clubs. Right now, many clubs didn’t come back because people either graduated or it didn’t make sense to, since clubs weren’t recruiting a lot of people,” she said.

There aren’t any official clubs about speed-cubing or mariachi band-ing, but students at WCC can make that dream — or any other — a reality.

Boissoneau clarified: “Students can technically make any club they want, but there are some restrictions.”

“In the past, there was a request for a drone-flying club. I reached out to the student who wanted to start it, asking what adviser agreed to it, and they didn’t have an answer,” she said.

There was also the question of how they were going to fund the club. The student assumed the school would support it. WCC offers some funding, “but not enough for drones for everyone,'” said Boissoneau.

WCC used to contribute more money to clubs. The standard per club was $250 per semester – until a few students started abusing it.

“We had a comic book club who wanted us to buy them comic books, and we said ‘Sure,’ because it technically fits the criteria for funding,” said Boissoneau.

“However, students started taking those comic books home for personal rather than for club use. That was when we decided it wasn’t a great use of WCC tax dollars. So we had to switch it up, and clubs now get $50 for a one-time expense.”

Now, if clubs require funding, they must apply for mini-grants that pay up to $250 for educational events. This requires filling out forms and working with Boissoneau during those events.

It may be easier to start new clubs this semester; however, there are still a few requirements to meet. You need:

Two students with a 2.0 cumulative GPA or above. They must both be currently enrolled in 3 college credits.
A full-time staff member or full/part-time faculty member to agree to serve as the club advisor.

There is no deadline to register clubs this semester.

At WCC students have the possibility to make their own clubs. Veronica Boissoneau is the coordinator of student organizations. | Student Development and Activities

Outspace+, one of the available WCC student clubs, is a gender and sexuality alliance that aims to foster a safe and inclusive environment for all students on campus. Students can seek comfort and support from members of this club with all LGBT+ matters. Karen Lewis, the vice president of Outspace+, said its history dates back to 2005. “We don’t know what it was like getting the club started, we just renew it every year — which is fairly easy.”

However, that doesn’t change how she feels about the club. “One of the best parts about being in the club is the community,” said Lewis. “It’s great to have a place where all us queer people can just be ourselves and not need to censor our identities, where we don’t have to worry about prejudice, and we can meet others just like us.

“To have a place where we can celebrate who we are, as we are,” she said.

Boissoneau encourages students to be more involved in campus activities. “Your campus experience is what you make it, so don’t be afraid to try new clubs. If one club doesn’t work for you, or you just don’t particularly vibe with it, there are so many others, and you can make your own if you can’t find something.”

If a student has a club idea, a partner and adviser from WCC, and would like to fill out a registration form, click here.