Suits, jerseys and everything in between flooded Claremont McKenna College’s Flamson Plaza last Friday afternoon. CMC students darted between tables, as posters and fliers blurred into a whirlwind of opportunity.
On Jan. 30, CMC hosted their biannual club fair featuring over 30 clubs, including several new ones. While the other 5Cs hold a single club fair per year, CMC hosts these events at the start of each semester.
“This year, we have had more clubs start than in the last five or six years,” Devya Khemka CM ’28, vice president of campus organizations at the Associated Students of CMC, said.
Club fairs, Khemka explained, provide a unique opportunity for students to engage with their community and learn more about their campus. They’re especially important for first-year students, as they display countless potential paths for their next four years.
Among the newly created clubs was Lead, Learn, Serve – an organization that volunteers with students at El Roble Middle School. This year, they hope to implement a 9-week civic education program, in which CMC students create lesson plans and teach El Roble students directly.
“We had a considerable amount of interest at the club fair, which was very exciting,” club president Ava Reichman CM ’26 said. “Many students seemed genuinely interested in our club and its mission. We are eager to see how our lesson plans are received and what we can do better for next year.”
For many students, this kind of advocacy work not only helps them pursue a potential career but also allows them to engage with the local Claremont community. Young People’s Alliance (YPA), founded last semester by David Yusten CM ’29, was born out of a desire for students to address hot-button issues pertinent to Claremont, within and beyond the 5C campuses.
“We want to unite young people and students to represent students here at the 5Cs and also nationwide on a variety of young people’s issues,” Yusten said.
Last semester, YPA advocated for blocking the AI Moratorium, a policy that prohibits state legislatures from regulating AI.
This spring, Yusten hopes to focus on housing affordability. More specifically, they’re interested in analyzing and advocating for redefining zoning laws to address the housing shortage.
“We want to start securing the American Dream for students when they graduate,” Yusten said.
This branch of CMC clubs is important for students who want to extend their learning beyond the classroom and explore new ways to further their research into exciting new topics. Not all clubs, however, are overtly career-centered.
Some, like Crochet Club and the Breakfast Club, act as an escape from students’ busy lives. Amidst suits and spreadsheets, Kaitlyn Kong CM ’26 and Teya Diaz CM ’26 spend their evenings knitting.
“We’re trying to create this community-driven space where people are able to express their hobbies and, most importantly, make time for something that they might not necessarily have time to do while they’re here at CMC with a super busy schedule,” Kong said.
The co-presidents expressed feeling drawn to the club as a way to make time for their shared hobby when a busy academic schedule monopolizes all of their time. Now, they hope to extend that opportunity to all students, regardless of their level or prior experience.
“I think it’s really, really adorable when you see people come continuously because they really enjoy crocheting now,” Kong said. “For me, it’s really rewarding to teach someone how to crochet, and then they keep coming back, and then they get better and better each workshop.”
The early morning conversations that the CMC Breakfast Club holds offer something similar to students: a warm haven away from obligations. On some mornings, you can find this club happily chatting over meals before they begin their day.
“It started because someone felt like they didn’t want to have breakfast alone,” Khemka said. “They just saw everyone in the morning have breakfast, and were like, ‘let’s start a club.’”
Khemka said that events like these — that foster community among diverse groups of students — are the kind of student engagement that he wants to see from club leaders throughout the semester. He described hearing about fewer club events this year across the 5Cs.
“And if you want to start something new, there’s always room for more clubs. If you don’t find something that you like, make it.”
“I feel like everyone should just go out more,” Khemka said. “Just talk to people a little more.“I feel like people are spending too much time in the dorms. Just meet people.”
Khemka is concerned that, especially for first-year students, a lack of events could mean less time to get to know one another and the school. This is why, he explained, club fairs play a vital role in CMC student life.
“Just join as many things as you want, then you can drop later,” Khemka said. “And if you want to start something new, there’s always room for more clubs. If you don’t find something that you like, make it.”
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