ARC clubs determined to still help the community despite campus shutdown
Clubs that are unable to function on campus now shift focus to serving the larger community
The American River College Pi Theta Kappa Club have reached out to the greater community and are working with the Sacramento Food Bank to help distribute food to the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic, while they are unable to function on campus. (file photo)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, American River College has been closed to students and teachers since mid-March. This has created a difficult time for ARC organizations and clubs that rely on the campus to connect with students.
However, these clubs have had to adapt to the changes to remain active and maintain their role with the campus.
Clubs like Phi Theta Kappa have reached out and partnered up with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Sacramento Food Bank to help distribute food to the homeless and needy during the quarantine due to COVID-19.
“We are, however, currently attempting to provide our volunteer services to several organizations outside the school, such as the Sacramento Food Bank, to support our local community,” Jose Catalan, president of the Phi Theta Kappa club said in an email to the Current. “We are also currently working on several projects to provide COVID-19 support as best as possible.”
The campus shut-down has also hampered communication within the clubs. But by using online communication, Phi Theta Kappa has been able to proceed as usual with little issue, Catalan said.
“We are currently using ConferZoom to conduct both officer and general meetings (general meetings are open to the public and we welcome people to join in). The only issue we encountered due to the campus closure was the inability to conduct on-campus events that can benefit the college community as a whole,” Catalan said.
Phi Theta Kappa is working in conjunction with the Engineering Club to work on a hydro project, according to Catalan.
Other clubs like the Coalition for Undocumented Students and Allies (CUSA) Club have also been meeting using Zoom.
CUSA club president Desireé Rodriguez stressed the importance of communication for the club in an email to the current.
“Our club officers are still meeting via Zoom to gather information to send out with updates and resources we find might be useful to our fellow club members and greater community.” Rodriguez said. “It is especially important that our undocumented students get the most up to date and accurate information during this time.”
