Clubs are a catalyst for community, academic growth and professional preparedness; if the Club Hub doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, start your own.
At a college lacking Greek life or a football team to rally around, clubs are integral to Western’s sense of campus community.
“The clubs that I work with really foster a sense of belonging with other people,” said Donna Wilson, the club activities manager at Western.
Cameron Trichel, a second-year student at Western on a pre-law path, fell in love with the Mock Trial Club the summer after his junior year of high school. Trichel credits the program and the community he found within it as the reason he became more academically involved and eventually chose to pursue law.
“Before that, I had no clue what I wanted to do at all,” said Trichel, who described his high school self as fairly uninterested in academics. His exposure to the club changed that. “I clicked with the people really well; I loved the way everyone thought and interacted and presented themselves. It was such a cool community.”
When he arrived at Western, Trichel was dismayed to discover the Club Hub didn’t offer a chapter of the Mock Trial program. “I looked into it, and Western didn’t have a team, so that was the root for me starting to make this my project,” said Trichel, who says his main goal of his freshman year was to recreate the club at Western.
For many students, the idea of starting a club feels distinctly daunting. Thor Valentine, a second-year student at Western, is pursuing amateur boxing and often finds himself wishing for a community of like-minded athletes. Despite his desire for a boxing club, he’s reluctant to take the lead.
“I don’t think I would want to take the time and obligate myself multiple times a week,” said Valentine, who also expressed concern for the responsibility of promoting safety while members practiced the contact sport.
Valentine accurately assessed that running a club is logistically tricky and a big-time commitment. Trichel said he spends more than 10 hours a week running and participating in the Mock Trial Club.
Wilson understands that this workload of founding a club might appear overwhelming, but she wants students to know there are resources available that can help minimize the effort required to start and run a club.
“Our whole office is here to help you every step of the way,” said Wilson.
Trichel doesn’t see the time spent weekly maintaining his club as a strain. “It’s a good amount of work, but I think anyone will tell you it really doesn’t feel like homework. It’s not cumbersome; it really is just so much fun,” he said.
The Mock Trial Club at Western has more than tripled its members since last year, which now comprises two teams. As Trichel found out, other people felt similarly, but didn’t have a place to gather until the Mock Trial Club was formed.
“It’s exciting to see people kind of come out of hiding, who are like-minded and wanted to do this stuff, but we just needed to bring together that group of people,” said Trichel.
The success of the Mock Trial Club is a testament to the importance of taking initiative. If you feel there is a gap waiting to be filled in the club registry, others probably agree.
Club involvement supplements academics and looks good on a resume but the most fulfilling benefit is the sense of community fostered during meetings and events. In a school of more than 14,000 students, it’s easy to get lost in a crowd; clubs provide a space for relationships to form in a condensed atmosphere. A room full of people who share the same passion and mindset is within reach for anyone who has the gumption to click that big blue “start a club” button on the Club Hub website. What are you waiting for?
The next club fair will be held the first week of winter quarter, Jan. 7–8, 2026, in the Multipurpose Room of the Viking Union.
Sarah Zieger (she/her) is a Journalism major and Opinion writer for The Front this quarter. When she's not holed up in a coffee shop writing this week's piece, you can find her drawing in a hammock somewhere off Chuckanut or lifting at the rec. You can reach her at sarahzieger.thefront@gmail.com.
