English Club brings together students with a love for words
By Nick Bainbridge
At High Point University, there is a multitude of unique and exciting clubs that appeal to many different interests, and English Club is definitely one worth considering. HPU’s official English Club was created to give lovers of writing and literature a place to discuss related topics with their peers.
At weekly meetings, members engage in conversations about recent novels they have read and express their opinions on different works by their favorite authors. Furthermore, it is a place where students can share their own work and receive feedback from other young writers.
The club also sometimes holds group readings, where students examine a work of literature and break down the significance of the story together as they read it. The primary goal is to form a community of English enthusiasts where they can engage in witty banter.
As Keaton Case, Co-president of the English Club, put it, “Our mission statement is to gather people who love reading and writing together for discussion.”
English Club meetings serve to do more than just facilitate discussions between students. Sometimes club meetings also feature visits from different professors in HPU’s English department if they have important information that they wish to share with students. This can include information on upcoming classes, workshops or other English-related events that the school is hosting. These visits also give students opportunities to speak with their professors and mentors outside of the classroom and have conversations about subjects that aren’t covered in their classes.
While it is a great place for English majors to connect with others in their field, there is no barrier to entry for anyone who enjoys literature. One might expect that English Club would only be for students who seek a career in writing, but many of the club’s members come from a variety of majors and areas of interest including communications, theater and math.
For example, Erica Schimmel, the club treasurer, is a triple major in French, political science and international business with a minor in economics. Even so, she is still a regular attendee at meetings and one of the most dedicated members of the club.
“It’s a great way to hang out with people who have interests and perspectives different from your own,” Shimmel said. “Sometimes we talk about English related things, and sometimes we do a group analysis of bad fan fiction. It’s pretty laid back.”
The club also plans different events that members can participate in such as an open mic night, where aspiring poets can share their work with the community. The English Club has also arranged activities such as a book exchange, where members can trade their favorite novels with each other.
English Club is a place for discussion on interesting topics related to the subjects of literature and writing. Weekly club meetings take place on Fridays at the Great Day Bakery in the Wanek Center from 12-1 p.m. and are open to anyone who wants to join.