2008 Woodie Awards
Campus clubs combat boredom
From TV shows to science experiments, students find ways to form niche groups
By: Karen McGlenn and Trish Wallace
Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: LifeStyle
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Anime Society
For those with an interest in Japanese anime, Webster's Anime Society meets at 7 p.m. every other Friday in the Webster Village Apartments' clubhouse. Meetings consist of talking about upcoming events, video games, costumes and watching anime.
Sophomore Katrina Johnson, a film production major and president of the Anime Society said the group wants to expose people to Japanese animation and show how much American animation is influenced by it.
Japanese anime differs from American animation by how it is drawn, said freshman Jeremy Johnson, an animation major.
"For example, U.S. animation would be expressed in the whole face, whereas Japanese anime is more focused, like just on the eye," Jeremy Johnson said. "It is also slower paced."
Jeremy Johnson said he prefers Japanese anime.
"There is not a lot of bouncing or stretching, like in American animation," Katrina Johnson said. "I tend to not like American animation."
The Anime Society is open to anyone who wants to join, students and non-students alike. The group said there is something for everyone in anime. Sophomore Mikhail Lynn, a film production major and Japanese minor, said it is hard for some to get past the language barrier since most anime is completely in Japanese.
"Some people refuse to watch subtitles," Lynn said.
Another big part of being a fan of anime is dressing up in costumes. People make costumes of their favorite characters and dress up. Katrina Johnson dressed up on campus last year and plans to do so again this year.
"It's spring and it's getting warmer, so I will start to dress up on Fridays," Katrina Johnson said. "Most people in the club are first-time costumers."
The group is planning to go to the sixth annual Anime Central convention in May in Chicago. A big part of the convention is showcasing costumes.
For more information about the Webster University Anime Society, visit their Web site athttp://www.wuanimesociety.tripod.com.
Scandalmakers
Everyone has a favorite television show. Some people plan their social lives around TV night. Others devour magazines that showcase the actors from their favorite show. Sophomore Paul Goetz has founded a club to pay homage to his favorite television show.
Goetz, a film major, is president of Scandalmakers, a club devoted entirely to the television show "Arrested Development." "Scandalmakers" is a television show within the "Arrested Development" show and Goetz thought it would make a good club name. Even though the show has been canceled, Goetz said the club will go on.
"We have many events planned that will center around the show," Goetz said.
The new club paid its respects Feb. 10 by watching the show's final four episodes. The conference room in the University Center was decked out in "Arrested Development" garb. A Hawaiian shirt (a recurring theme in the show), along with pictures and signs decorated the walls of the room. A projector was set up to watch the last episodes that aired during their meeting. Around 20 people attended.
Goetz said when he went to the Student Government Association to get funding and approval for his club, most in the SGA were excited by his enthusiasm and his presentation.
"They knew I would give (the club) my all," Goetz said.
Sophomore Michael Hoffmann, a film production major and treasurer of the Scandalmakers, joined the club because his friend, Paul, asked him to help out.
"I am a big fan of the show, so I said yes," Hoffmann said. "George Michael (a character on the show) had a Hawaiian shirt like I had and I thought that was cool."
Goetz said a lack of advertising and bad marketing led to the show's demise on network television. He also cites the show's irreverent humor as a factor.
"People don't really get it," Goetz said.
Funded by SGA, the club pays the copyrights to watch the show's 53 episodes. The group will watch four episodes each meeting. They are planning several upcoming events, such as a bowling night, karaoke night and a softball game. There also might be a possible trivial night and a "mother/boy dance."
Goetz admits he is obsessed with the show. He programmed his voicemail for his cell phone to sound like the intro to the show. He said he has never been this involved with a television show.
"I am definitely obsessed," Goetz said.
The club meets at 6 p.m. every other Friday in the Sverdrup Building, room 123.
Creative Writing Group
The Creative Writing Group is a club dedicated to sharing creative writing works with fellow writers. The open forum is a relaxed atmosphere where students can bring their work to be read aloud and critiqued by their peers.
Craig Hurst, a freshman film and creative writing major, is the group's founder. He decided to form the group after discussing J.R.R. Tolkien during his freshman seminar, when Hurst discovered that Tolkien had a group in college that centered around open discussions of creative works.
"I asked the instructor if there was a group here at Webster," Hurst said. "When I found out there wasn't, I decided to form one on my own."
The group will meet once a week for two hours. At each meeting, a student will hand out copies of a selected piece of writing and the group members will critique the work and give the writer feedback. They will help each other with their writing and encourage each other.
The location of the group's meetings was important to Hurst. He chose the Webster Village Apartments' clubhouse to meet because the couches there made it more comfortable for the group.
"I didn't want to meet in a classroom because it would be too constricted," Hurst said. "I didn't want a classroom feel. The clubhouse is more laid back."
Senior Adam Hofbauer, a film major, said he wanted to join the group because it would be a chance for writers to communicate with other writers.
"I can show my work to my family and friends, but they are going to like it because they like me," he said. "Here we can get open discourse going."
Having guest speakers might be an option, Hurst said. But right now, "we are going to just concentrate on trying to get set up."
For more information on the Creative Writing Group, e-mail Craig Hurst at craighurst24@auden.webster.edu.
Society of Biological Sciences
Webster science gurus now have a place of their own to meet and share thoughts. The Society for Biological Sciences was approved as a new student organization by the Student Government Association last semester and has now begun meeting to assess the accuracy of science in Hollywood, planning labs for youngsters and working toward many more activities.
"A lot of people don't even know we have a biology department," said freshman Jonathan Shirshekan, a biology major and co-founder of the club. "They're like, 'You're a biology major and you go to Webster?' It freaks them out."
Shirshekan said the only club in the biology department was the former pre-med club, but it "never materialized" and "fell through." So Shirshekan and junior biology major Jessica Elam decided to give Webster science lovers something to call their own.
"There was a pre-med club at Webster in the past, but the people who attended graduated and no underclassmen kept it going," Elam said. "I attended when I was a freshman and was really sad to see it fall apart."
Elam said the main purpose of the group is to allow students to "network through each other."
"It's one thing to experience biology inside a classroom, and it's another thing to experience it with fellow scientists outside class," Elam said.
Another goal of the organization is to unite science students.
"The biology program is a difficult program," Shirshekan said. "There's a lot of comradery and by fostering that to the greater good, we could have a lot of progress."
The group hosted its first activity Feb. 13, showing a screening of "The Day After Tomorrow" and then discussed the scientific material in the film.
"It was an ice breaker," Shirshekan said. "We watched a movie and talked about how it was scientifically impossible. We kind of made fun of it."
Shirshekan was pleased with the turn out for the event and said more people attended than he expected.
While the group is still new, members are busy trying to decide what kinds of events and activities to sponsor. Tentative plans include trips to the St. Louis Zoo and Science Center, holding more movie nights, cancer walks and inviting guest speakers to give lectures.
"We're just forming and trying to decide which direction to go," Elam said.
The club is also planning to work with younger students at local schools.
"It's really exciting for me to start planning for the educational outreach," Shirshekan said. "We hope to have it ready by the first week of March."
Currently the group is coordinating with Shaw Elementary, which, according to Shirshekan, is "kind of ironic because it's a performing arts school like Webster."
The outreach program is designed to work with elementary and middle school students. Hands on activities and labs are meant to get the kids interested in science.
Students can join the Society for Biological Sciences through Webster's Connections program online. The club is listed under the student organizations. Anybody is free to join. Announcements are posted regularly. Shirshekan said about 20 members have already signed up.
"We're trying to stay active, so member participation is vital," Shirshekan said.
The group is not limited only to biology majors. Anyone with an interest in science is welcome to participate.
For those with an interest in Japanese anime, Webster's Anime Society meets at 7 p.m. every other Friday in the Webster Village Apartments' clubhouse. Meetings consist of talking about upcoming events, video games, costumes and watching anime.
Sophomore Katrina Johnson, a film production major and president of the Anime Society said the group wants to expose people to Japanese animation and show how much American animation is influenced by it.
Japanese anime differs from American animation by how it is drawn, said freshman Jeremy Johnson, an animation major.
"For example, U.S. animation would be expressed in the whole face, whereas Japanese anime is more focused, like just on the eye," Jeremy Johnson said. "It is also slower paced."
Jeremy Johnson said he prefers Japanese anime.
"There is not a lot of bouncing or stretching, like in American animation," Katrina Johnson said. "I tend to not like American animation."
The Anime Society is open to anyone who wants to join, students and non-students alike. The group said there is something for everyone in anime. Sophomore Mikhail Lynn, a film production major and Japanese minor, said it is hard for some to get past the language barrier since most anime is completely in Japanese.
"Some people refuse to watch subtitles," Lynn said.
Another big part of being a fan of anime is dressing up in costumes. People make costumes of their favorite characters and dress up. Katrina Johnson dressed up on campus last year and plans to do so again this year.
"It's spring and it's getting warmer, so I will start to dress up on Fridays," Katrina Johnson said. "Most people in the club are first-time costumers."
The group is planning to go to the sixth annual Anime Central convention in May in Chicago. A big part of the convention is showcasing costumes.
For more information about the Webster University Anime Society, visit their Web site athttp://www.wuanimesociety.tripod.com.
Scandalmakers
Everyone has a favorite television show. Some people plan their social lives around TV night. Others devour magazines that showcase the actors from their favorite show. Sophomore Paul Goetz has founded a club to pay homage to his favorite television show.
Goetz, a film major, is president of Scandalmakers, a club devoted entirely to the television show "Arrested Development." "Scandalmakers" is a television show within the "Arrested Development" show and Goetz thought it would make a good club name. Even though the show has been canceled, Goetz said the club will go on.
"We have many events planned that will center around the show," Goetz said.
The new club paid its respects Feb. 10 by watching the show's final four episodes. The conference room in the University Center was decked out in "Arrested Development" garb. A Hawaiian shirt (a recurring theme in the show), along with pictures and signs decorated the walls of the room. A projector was set up to watch the last episodes that aired during their meeting. Around 20 people attended.
Goetz said when he went to the Student Government Association to get funding and approval for his club, most in the SGA were excited by his enthusiasm and his presentation.
"They knew I would give (the club) my all," Goetz said.
Sophomore Michael Hoffmann, a film production major and treasurer of the Scandalmakers, joined the club because his friend, Paul, asked him to help out.
"I am a big fan of the show, so I said yes," Hoffmann said. "George Michael (a character on the show) had a Hawaiian shirt like I had and I thought that was cool."
Goetz said a lack of advertising and bad marketing led to the show's demise on network television. He also cites the show's irreverent humor as a factor.
"People don't really get it," Goetz said.
Funded by SGA, the club pays the copyrights to watch the show's 53 episodes. The group will watch four episodes each meeting. They are planning several upcoming events, such as a bowling night, karaoke night and a softball game. There also might be a possible trivial night and a "mother/boy dance."
Goetz admits he is obsessed with the show. He programmed his voicemail for his cell phone to sound like the intro to the show. He said he has never been this involved with a television show.
"I am definitely obsessed," Goetz said.
The club meets at 6 p.m. every other Friday in the Sverdrup Building, room 123.
Creative Writing Group
The Creative Writing Group is a club dedicated to sharing creative writing works with fellow writers. The open forum is a relaxed atmosphere where students can bring their work to be read aloud and critiqued by their peers.
Craig Hurst, a freshman film and creative writing major, is the group's founder. He decided to form the group after discussing J.R.R. Tolkien during his freshman seminar, when Hurst discovered that Tolkien had a group in college that centered around open discussions of creative works.
"I asked the instructor if there was a group here at Webster," Hurst said. "When I found out there wasn't, I decided to form one on my own."
The group will meet once a week for two hours. At each meeting, a student will hand out copies of a selected piece of writing and the group members will critique the work and give the writer feedback. They will help each other with their writing and encourage each other.
The location of the group's meetings was important to Hurst. He chose the Webster Village Apartments' clubhouse to meet because the couches there made it more comfortable for the group.
"I didn't want to meet in a classroom because it would be too constricted," Hurst said. "I didn't want a classroom feel. The clubhouse is more laid back."
Senior Adam Hofbauer, a film major, said he wanted to join the group because it would be a chance for writers to communicate with other writers.
"I can show my work to my family and friends, but they are going to like it because they like me," he said. "Here we can get open discourse going."
Having guest speakers might be an option, Hurst said. But right now, "we are going to just concentrate on trying to get set up."
For more information on the Creative Writing Group, e-mail Craig Hurst at craighurst24@auden.webster.edu.
Society of Biological Sciences
Webster science gurus now have a place of their own to meet and share thoughts. The Society for Biological Sciences was approved as a new student organization by the Student Government Association last semester and has now begun meeting to assess the accuracy of science in Hollywood, planning labs for youngsters and working toward many more activities.
"A lot of people don't even know we have a biology department," said freshman Jonathan Shirshekan, a biology major and co-founder of the club. "They're like, 'You're a biology major and you go to Webster?' It freaks them out."
Shirshekan said the only club in the biology department was the former pre-med club, but it "never materialized" and "fell through." So Shirshekan and junior biology major Jessica Elam decided to give Webster science lovers something to call their own.
"There was a pre-med club at Webster in the past, but the people who attended graduated and no underclassmen kept it going," Elam said. "I attended when I was a freshman and was really sad to see it fall apart."
Elam said the main purpose of the group is to allow students to "network through each other."
"It's one thing to experience biology inside a classroom, and it's another thing to experience it with fellow scientists outside class," Elam said.
Another goal of the organization is to unite science students.
"The biology program is a difficult program," Shirshekan said. "There's a lot of comradery and by fostering that to the greater good, we could have a lot of progress."
The group hosted its first activity Feb. 13, showing a screening of "The Day After Tomorrow" and then discussed the scientific material in the film.
"It was an ice breaker," Shirshekan said. "We watched a movie and talked about how it was scientifically impossible. We kind of made fun of it."
Shirshekan was pleased with the turn out for the event and said more people attended than he expected.
While the group is still new, members are busy trying to decide what kinds of events and activities to sponsor. Tentative plans include trips to the St. Louis Zoo and Science Center, holding more movie nights, cancer walks and inviting guest speakers to give lectures.
"We're just forming and trying to decide which direction to go," Elam said.
The club is also planning to work with younger students at local schools.
"It's really exciting for me to start planning for the educational outreach," Shirshekan said. "We hope to have it ready by the first week of March."
Currently the group is coordinating with Shaw Elementary, which, according to Shirshekan, is "kind of ironic because it's a performing arts school like Webster."
The outreach program is designed to work with elementary and middle school students. Hands on activities and labs are meant to get the kids interested in science.
Students can join the Society for Biological Sciences through Webster's Connections program online. The club is listed under the student organizations. Anybody is free to join. Announcements are posted regularly. Shirshekan said about 20 members have already signed up.
"We're trying to stay active, so member participation is vital," Shirshekan said.
The group is not limited only to biology majors. Anyone with an interest in science is welcome to participate.