If you’re a new student at Cornell, among the millions of others anxiety-laden thoughts that keep you up at night is this: Cornell is huge. Spanning hundreds of acres and boasting over 3,000 students per class, it’s easy to feel like you’re a small fish frantically navigating your way through a big (and hilly) pond. And though it starts to eventually shrink as you recognize some of the many faces that you see every day, are able to distinguish Olin Hall from Olin Library, and discover all of the flattest shortcuts to class, it is the hundreds of extracurricular activities (as recent as 400+ on the Student Activities website) that will truly allow you to discover your niche on campus. Rachel ’14 believes that “extracurriculars are a great way to meet like-minded people and to get social experience outside of the classroom.” No matter what you’re interested in, there’s a club out there for you!
Here are 5 awesome clubs we wish we’d known about freshman year:
1. Quidditch Club: You don’t have to wait until your impending Spring Break trip to Florida to feel immersed in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Founded by HC Cornell’s very own Amanda Quain, the Quidditch Club aims to bring together Potter fans and sports enthusiasts alike to grab their brooms and baskets and participate in a match on the Arts Quad. But this sport isn’t for the faint at heart. Many team members strive to stay in true Seeker shape by hitting the gym—some members have even been spotted running with a broom between their legs on the treadmill! Quidditch is a great club to participate in and matches are always fun to watch from the sidelines.
How to Join: cornell.quidditch@gmail.com
2. Cornell Fashion Collective: Do you find yourself ogling the fashion-forward designs on Project Runway? The Cornell Fashion Collective is your chance to put your own haute couture skills to the test. Formerly the Design League, the Cornell Fashion Collective is the hub for budding fashion designers, as students create unique pieces for a fabulous runway show in April. From sketching and sewing to selecting the perfect model at a model call, the Cornell Fashion Collective introduces students to the fashion industry through real hands-on experience, looming deadlines and all. And don’t worry if you’ve never threaded a needle in your life, there is still a place for any fashion lover, as dedicated members can become line leaders or work on publicity for the club, among other opportunities. No matter what role you may play in the Fashion Collective, you’ll definitely, as Tim Gunn would say, “make it work.”
How to Join: cornell_fashion_collective-l@cornell.edu
3.Squirrel Club: No, you aren’t misreading anything; there really is a club at Cornell that is dedicated to the usually lesser-venerated rodent in the animal kingdom. This club gives squirrel enthusiasts a chance to convene and venture on squirrel watching tours, watch movies about squirrels, and even hear guest speakers talk about their experience with squirrels. And they have awesome t-shirts. Asked why he founded the club, Ben Nachman ’12 says, “I am a huge fan and advocate of squirrels. I started a squirrel club at my high school in 2006 (which is still active!) as well.” Even if you aren’t into squirrels, this club shows that at Cornell, you can make a club out of virtually anything, as long as you’re passionate about it! Not to mention that the club’s website is chock full of squirrel related information: did you know that the Danish word for squirrel is “egern?”
How to Join: squirrelclub@cornell.edu
4. ChoCTech Club: Short for the Chocolate & Confections Technology Club, members have a chance to learn the ins and outs of chocolate processing and the confectionery industry. Club members strive to learn the scientific background of chocolate and develop ways of producing different types of chocolate confections to target a specific consumer base. Though the aim of the club is not always centered around chocolate tastings, there are opportunities to sneak in a sweet treat or two throughout the year; for example, members attended the Chocolate Show in New York City last fall. This club is ideal for food science enthusiasts or anyone who wants to meld their passion for chocolate with their intellectual pursuits.
How to Join:choctechcornell@gmail.com
5. Guiding Eyes at Cornell: Love dogs and a good cause? Then Guiding Eyes at Cornell may be the perfect fit for you. After a few training sessions to get you used to handling guide dogs (which entails being surrounded by dozens of adorable puppies), you will be able to dog-sit and may eventually even have the responsibility of training one yourself. And since these dogs are service animals, you can bring them to class (with the permission of your professor) and even to your dorm when caring for them. Though the training is quite rigorous and you have to keep reinforcing good behavior with your dog, the experience is nothing short of fulfilling and rewarding, and there will definitely be time for a belly rub or two.
How to Join: guidingeyes@cornell.edu
This list is in no way exhaustive, and there are plenty of different clubs to choose from. If you missed ClubFest, be sure to check out www.sao.cornell.edu and browse through all of the clubs to find the ones that are most interesting to you!