Student clubs at Landmark College play a key role in allowing students to explore their interests and hobbies, helping to cultivate a well-rounded college experience. Active clubs span from those with an academic lens – such as the History Club or the Moot Court Club – to those with a more recreational or even whimsical focus, like the Gardening Club and the Witchcraft Club.
There are roughly two dozen active student organizations on campus, according to Director of Student Involvement & Leadership Development Scott Forthofer. "The wide range of student organizations available on campus provide avenues for students to explore and develop their passions in a student-led setting," said Forthofer.
Katie Butler, a member of the Gardening Club, said that she “met one of my best friends through the gardening club,” and that student organizations on campus are a great way for students to connect with one another. Butler added that the gardening club “helps students understand where their food comes from, and how to grow it." In recent years, the Gardening Club has had around a dozen members who maintain the greenhouse on campus, grow fruits and vegetables, and experiment with making products such as jams.
If a student has an interest for which they can't find an active club on campus, creating a new one is as simple as approaching Forthofer and asking for the College's support. “We work with students to make starting a club as easy as possible," Forthofer said. Any group of three or more students interested in starting a club is invited to submit a proposal to the College and once approved, they can access annual funding sources and support from the College, according to Forthofer.
The Billiards Club is one of the most popular student organizations on campus, with over two dozen active members and select events – such as their Super Bowl watch party – drawing as many as 100 students. Josh Sampaio, a student organizer of the Billiards Club, said that the goal of the Billiards Club is to have fun and participate in collaborative events every week. "It can be competitive at times, but it’s fun, and people come out to see each other, have fun, play billiards and listen to music," Sampaio said.
Assistant Professor of History Tyler Baker is the faculty advisor for two clubs on campus, the Moot Court Club and the History Club. Speaking to the origin of the Moot Court Club, Baker explained that "students wanted to debate legal theory or court cases within a student-led environment where they can take intellectual risks and dive deep into specific cases and theories."
This led student JJ Davis to found the Moot Court Club with Baker's guidance, creating a space for students to explore the law outside of the traditional curriculum. Reflecting upon the two clubs he direclty advises, Baker said that "much like our classrooms, the use the student club infrastructure at Landmark provides students with structure without taking away autonomy.”
Learn more about student life at Landmark College.