THE UNI COMMUNITY has always been blessed by an abundance of clubs and organizations concerned with social justice. In recent years, however, the sheer amount of them has become a problem.

Last year, as each club attempted to organize events and causes, each would be competing for the same time, resources, and teacher chaperones. Especially considering the fact that many of the same students are involved with many of Uni’s social justice clubs, it was apparent that a change needed to occur in order to make how the clubs interact more efficient.

The solution? One Club, a joint meeting of the entire Uni social justice community hosted by Student Council. Although not technically a “club,” its concern is increasing cooperation within Uni’s activist community, in order to counteract the effects of Uni's plethora of organizations.

“The effectiveness [of activist organizations] was taken away because of so many clubs,” said senior Shara Esbenshade, one of the meeting’s organizers, along with junior Natsuki Nakamura, sophomore Rachel Harmon, and Student Council sponsor Rick Murphy.

Organizations as diverse as the Prejudice Awareness Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, United for Uganda and Students for a Better World all can meet at One Club to discuss their myriad goals, plans and concerns for the upcoming year.

Any club concerned with activism, be it a discussion- or action-based group, is encouraged to attend in order to discuss its plans for the rest of the year.

In this way, clubs that normally might never consider joint actions can realize their common ground in order to further their various causes.

In fact, the first meeting, held Sept. 20, was such a success that the clubs will reconvene at lunch on Tuesday in Room 109. Among the topics that will be discussed is the future of X-Week, traditionally a Student Council-sponsored week of fundraising activities in early May.

“X-Week was very disorganized last year,” said Esbenshade, Student Council's executive secretary/treasurer. "[The One Club organizers] decided we needed to reorganize it."

Last year, part of the problem with X-Week was that clubs had been raising large amounts of money throughout the year, such as at UFU’s junior-senior and underclassman lock-ins. Considering that UFU's monetary goal of $2,000 was equal to the goal of X-Week 2006, it seemed that X-Week might have become obsolete.

As events such as the senior auction and water-balloon toss are fond memories for many at Uni, it is likely that X-Week will not be done away with entirely. However, an overhaul of X-Week events is probably in order to maintain this tradition.

Another topic will be discussion of how the Student Council could be included into organizing events and speakers for One Club. Another important subject will be how the various clubs’ campaigns throughout the year will overlap, as well as how they conflict, and how those conflicts can be solved.

Much of the discussion will be continuation of that which started at One Club’s first meeting, which largely consisted of each club detailing its goals.

“We discussed our plans for the year so [clubs] can be aware of each other,” said Esbenshade, “and to find ways to work together instead of stepping on each others’ feet.”

However, the meeting also served a simpler purpose of introducing each group to the others, informing the Uni community about groups that may not be as high-profile as UFU or Activism Club.

If all goes well, Uni can look forward to a more effective and cooperative activist community, as well as an updated and energized X-Week as the year progresses.

UNI'S ACTIVIST COMMUNITY AT A GLANCE

Student Council executive secretary/treasurer Shara Esbenshade prepared this "who's who" of Uni's activist groups after the Sept. 20 meeting of One Club.

Asian American Club

• New discussion group
• Would like to do panels, documentaries, movies, discussions
• May combine with Prejudice Awareness Club

Gay-Straight Alliance

• Meets Thursdays
• Discussion group about personal issues of LGBT (rather than political) — safe space

LIFE Club

• Meets Wednesdays
• Discussion group but does community service as well
• Is planning Operation Christmas Child toy drive and coin drive (to raise money for shipment)

Prejudice Awareness Club

• Meets Wednesdays
• Discussion group about issues of race, privilege, and discrimination

Sexual Health Awareness Group

• Meets Fridays
• Discussion- and education-based group
• Held discussion about sex ed on Sept. 24 at Douglass Annex with Teen Awareness Group of Planned Parenthood
• Participated in Oct. 4 hip-hop benefit show for TAG at Club E'llusions

Students For a Better World

• Meets Wednesdays
• Bike ride to raise money for A Woman's Fund planned for Oct. 28

Uni High Activism Club

• Meets Mondays
• Monthly documentary showings
• On Sept. 26 showed "Race to Execution" about racism and the death penalty; extra credit provided by some teachers
• Is planning all-school volunteer event (probably with Books to Prisoners)

UNICEF Club

• Meets Mondays
• Fundraising group (ice cream sales, pizza sales, Halloween drive)
• All money goes to UNICEF (helps children around the world)

United For Uganda

• Meets Fridays
• First lock-in of the year will be Nov. 10
• Is planning another "personal sacrifice campaign"
• Money has gone in past to Invisible Children Schools 4 Schools but this year will go to grassroots organization Come Let's Dance
• Invisible Children tour comes in February
• Hopes to do panels, show documentaries about Uganda

Note: If your group isn't on this list but belongs here, please contact us.