History Club connects students through academia and cultural activities – The Echo
“This year the students decided they wanted to major in crafts. We did something for Dia De Los Muertos, we did some things for Greek Independence Day, and Koinobori. They are things that are internationally and culturally relevant, but they are Also historically relevant.”
The History Club at California Lutheran University has been in existence for several years and continues to connect students through various academic and extracurricular activities.
The History Club has a long-standing legacy on campus, even predating several longtime faculty members such as History Professor David Nelson. Nelson currently serves as the faculty advisor for the History Club, and became involved in the club in its first year on campus, 13 years ago.
“Before I came, it was more department-based, but I tried to hand over operations to the students more and more. Because it’s a student club and it has to be organized by students,” Nelson said.
The History Club meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in the Soiland Humanities Building, in Room 116 at 6pm where they host events and activities decided by club leadership. These events consist of anything from movie nights to historical events related to the country’s culture or important historical moments.
“We had about seven to eight meetings last semester, and I think half of those were watching movies. “Then we were able to mix in Jeopardy for one person, Trivial Pursuit for the other, and then maybe a craft night or two for the others,” the vice president said. Garrett Needham History Club.
Something new to the club’s list of activities is the introduction of an arts and crafts event, created by club treasurer Nectaria Anagnostou. These activities are called Cultural Craft Nights and they just started this school year. Participants are taught how to create an art piece from a chosen culture that celebrates a national holiday, such as creating koinobori, Japanese fish-shaped wind socks, to celebrate Children’s Day which takes place in May.
“This year the students decided they wanted to specialize in crafts. We did something for Dia De Los Muertos, we did some things for Greek Independence Day and Koinopuri. They are things that are internationally and culturally relevant, but also historically relevant,” Nelson said. “.
The club also has a deep connection to the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, which has its chapter within the community, Anagnosto said. The society represents the American Honor Society for undergraduate, graduate and professorial students which was founded on March 17, 1921 at the University of Arkansas. The History Club partners with the Honor Society to offer a “capstone event” for club members to end the school year.
“We have a closing event for History Majors, where everyone in the club participates, where we present our final project. There’s an open forum from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at Ullman on April 24. There’s a big cardboard poster that people can go to “It’s open to everyone,” Anagnostou said.
While the history club may have many students with history majors in the leadership, Nelson said that is not a requirement to attend activities. The club receives an average of 10 or more students, many of whom are often non-historical majors, he said. The club is primarily a social club, and Nelson said it aims to spread interest in history and portray it in a more entertaining way.
“Having professors participate in club meetings makes it more engaging, so you see your professor not only as your teacher, but also as someone who helps guide you outside of the classroom. I would say that a lot of people who come to the history club are not history majors, and they are there.” Just for the vibes, so they don’t have to be history majors to go to these meetings, it’s educational and activism at the same time,” Anagnosto said.
