New student clubs at Trevecca offer creative, professional and service-focused outlets

Keturah Tobias

Senior Reporter

From a photography club to a leatherworking club, four new student-led clubs are now on Trevecca’s campus, offering more connections and creative spaces.

The four new clubs were approved by Trevecca’s Student Government Association, known as SGA: BizCrush, Photography, Practical Faith, and Leatherworking Club. These clubs were established in response to student interest. 

BizCrush, created by Ryan Pimentel and Dany Saweres, a former Trevecca student, is a club that helps students enhance their college experiences by preparing them for professional life after graduation. They also assist students with reviewing resumes and they are partnered with Career Development.

“We decided to provide students with opportunities to learn, grow, and find value outside the classroom,” said Pimentel.

Photography Club, started by Mya Leach, is a club for students and staff involved in marketing. The main goal is to improve on taking photos and learning camera skills. 

Practical Faith, started by Sofia Espinal, is a service based club meant to help residents in the Trevecca Towers. They also provide their services throughout the community around Trevecca. 

“During my freshman year at Trevecca, I would often hear complaints from people who had the idea that Trevecca Towers is filled with dangerous people, and that these towers should not be on campus,” said Espinal. 

Leather Working Club, started by Joshua Vaque, is a club where students can make new items out of leather. 

Trevecca had service clubs in the past, and the comments about Trevecca Towers inspired her to make a service based club. 

“I had a different way of thinking: these are our neighbors, and if we want to form a relationship and see change, we must go and make it happen,” said Espinal.

Natalie Specht, director of Student Life and Dean of the Students’ Office, briefly explained the process of how clubs are formed.

Students begin by going to the Trevecca SharePoint where a form outlines all the necessary tasks that need to be completed and a list of the required documents that need to be filled out. The director of clubs reviews the application.

Then, a club charter must be submitted, and the president and a faculty sponsor fill out a contract as well. Once it gets approved, it is sent to SGA. The clubs will be reviewed during a Monday night meeting and present their club. SGA then votes on whether they think the club is aligned.

After being approved by SGA, it will go to the student life council, which is a pro-staff meeting that is with the SGA representatives. This is when it gets voted on whether or not the club should be officialized. 

“We have had clubs that the SGA itself didn’t feel comfortable approving,” said Hannah Cooper, ASB vice president. “We send it back to them and say, ‘Hey, you’re welcome to reword your constitution and make a reproposal.”

After a club is official, SGA works with club leaders on budgeting and keeps close contact to make sure they have everything they need. 

There is an expectation that staff and faculty members do participate in whenever there is a club event or club outing. Whenever the club decides to go off campus, a staff member must be present. 

“As far as your regular weekly meetings, we trust students that they can handle that without staff there,” said Specht. “A requirement for the sponsor is to be checking in regularly with the club president.”