After a week of canceled classes and being stuck indoors, now is a perfect time to discover new campus clubs and organizations to get you out of the dorms.
Murray State has an abundance of student organizations open for anyone to join. If you’re looking to connect with a community over a shared hobby or interest — or find a new one — here are a few clubs to check out.
Board Game Club is a social club for anyone who loves a casual or competitive game night.
LB Anderson, a sophomore creative writing major and vice president of Board Game Club, said Board Game Club values community and “fun for all students.”
“We play board games, meet new people and discover new ways to make our friends mad arguing house rules during Monopoly,” she said. “We’ve got all kinds of games to choose from, so you’re sure to find something you like. Find a group or play with friends.”
Anderson’s favorite part of the club is the “dedication and passion” of officers and members.
“I have made some incredibly close connections and have never felt nervous or out of place,” she said. “If you like board games, card games or hanging out with friends over rage-inducing cardboard sprawls, you should be there.”
Board Game Club meets at 5 p.m. every Wednesday. in Waterfield Gallery. The games are related to each week’s theme. For more information, check out their Instagram: @msuboardgameclub.
Photo Club is the place for you if you have an eye for photography and are looking for an artistic community.
As described in their Instagram bio, Photo Club is a place where students “learn different photographic skills and share our passion for the medium.”
Katie Hart, a senior photography major, is the Photo Club president. Whether a student is taking photography classes or simply interested in photography personally, Hart said the group is great for anyone to engage with other students who are “just as passionate about photography as they are.”
Photo Club’s big events every year are a trip to the Elk and Bison Prairie at the beginning of the semester and two holiday sales, Monster Mash in the fall and the Valentine’s Day Sale in the spring.
“My favorite part of the club is the events and opportunities we get to go to, whether that (is) traveling for a conference where we get to meet awesome photographers and other students, or the simple activities we as a group plan and host together,” Hart said. “A student can share their own artwork or projects in photography and get great feedback from others.”
Isabel Bolanos, a senior studio art major and Photo Club vice president, said the club is a “very calming and welcoming environment.”
“My favorite part would be seeing everyone who is interested come together and share our work,” she said. “We give feedback on what we can improve and try out. I love that we have people gather around and get to know each other.”
Photo Club meets every two weeks in Doyle Price Fine Arts 735. To stay updated, check out @msu_photoclub on Instagram.
Creative Writing Club is for writers looking for a calm space and community engagement.
Cassie Stone (she/they), a senior English secondary education major and member of the Creative Writing Club, said the club is a relaxing space for anyone both longtime writers and anyone “trying to work up the courage to start for the first time.”
“Most of the meeting time is dedicated to giving members a place and time to sit down and get some writing done, with an opportunity to share their progress and ideas during the last five to 10 minutes,” she said. “I’ve personally used the club time both for personal writing and catching up on papers for classes.”
Stone’s favorite aspect of the club is the collaboration and support from the group.
“People stepping forward to talk about and get excited to share their writing is my favorite part,” she said. “A lot of our regular attendees are fairly withdrawn, but everyone has still been very welcoming and supportive, which can be a huge motivation boost.”
Creative Writing Club meets at 4 p.m. every Friday in the Oakley Student Lounge.
Yarn Club is a community for fiber artists of all kinds. Knitting, crocheting, embroidering and the like are welcome.
Students can bring a project to work on while connecting with and learning from fellow crafters.
Eleyna Conway, a sophomore communication disorders major and acting president of Yarn Club, said meetings are “very chill” and a calm place for anyone to hang out.
“My favorite part about Yarn Club is having this safe space to express myself,” she said. “I would suggest people come to Yarn Club if they are looking for a place to make friends or destress from classes.”
While there have been some adjustments this semester due to leadership changes, Conway said she hosts Yarn Club meetings at on Tuesdays. in Oakley Applied Science 104. The room is also open to members on Thursdays at their own discretion. To learn more, visit @msu_yarnclub on Instagram and join their GroupMe for updates.
There are many more opportunities to join clubs and connect with like-minded students on campus. For a full list of registered student organizations, visit the Student Organizations and Registration webpage.
