Calapalooza is an annual event on the Berkeley campus featuring a wide selection of the school’s many student-run organizations. On the first day of every school year students file onto Sproul plaza to explore displays by clubs ranging from the Freshman Sophomore Business Club to KPopular, Berkeley’s first ever club based on Korean pop culture.
While Calapalooza is open to students both old and new, it’s especially important for freshmen to use this event as an entry into the many circles of the Berkeley community. Make sure to check out clubs based on activities you know you’re already interested in, but also keep yourself open to organizations you don’t think you’d normally join. Talk to the people at the tables. Take the fliers that club leaders hand out. By keeping an open mind to all the groups you encounter at Calapooza, you’re bound to eventually find something you’ll love and stick with throughout your college career.
It is easy to get overwhelmed by the 398 student organiations, but here’s a small sample of what you can join:
If you’re interested in Politics, there are campus groups for Republicans as well as Democratic supporters, who publish a regular magazine titled, The Smart Ass. There’s also the Berkeley Political Review, which publishes weekly and takes a more neutral standpoint regarding current events.
For Sports fans, athletic groups span from running to archery to tennis and sailing. Sessions are almost always open to beginners, and attendance at practices are both flexible and manageable.
There’s also a variety of journals and magazines open to students interested in writing, editing, and photography. Publications include Bare magazine, which features student-styled editorials and fashion tips in every issue. Caliber exhibits more general lifestyle pieces and articles on standout community figures and must-see local venues. And, of course, there’s the Daily Cal, Berkeley’s official student-run newspaper.
Whether you’re interested in food or fundraising or speaking French, you’re sure to find the club you’re looking for at Cal. Click here for the full list of organizations at UC Berkeley!