A new club is being welcomed to campus this spring semester: the American Sign Language club. Founded by freshman Elias Kenworthy and his fellow board members this semester, the American Sign Language club (known as ASL club) has started to welcome new members into their first few meetings.
Kenworthy, the club president, describes the new organization as “a learning space for students to come together in their shared interest in learning American Sign Language. Everyone is learning and we try to make sure that everyone feels welcome.”
Even though the club is just starting out, ASL club meetings already follow a sort of pattern. The typical meeting will consist of a greeting, a lesson, a conversation and a review of information from the previous week.
The goal for this semester for ASL club is to “facilitate a more active learning community where more students participate in teaching basics so that we are able to learn more about deaf culture and sign origins…” Kenworthy said.
Even though the club is just starting out, ASL club hopes to expand here at Virginia Wesleyan in the future through fun events or a buddy system.
ASL club’s board members Ben Olsen, Vice President, Eddie McDonald, Treasurer, Rhian Tramontana, Secretary, and Sasha Saxon, Media Correspondent, all join Kenworthy in providing a welcoming learning environment for any student who wishes to join one of their meetings.
Despite COVID-19 protocols, the club was able to form and start hosting weekly meetings via Google Meet. The club meets every Friday afternoon at 12 p.m. The link to their meetings can be found on their website, vwuaslclub.wixsite.com/marlins/.
Students are encouraged to join a meeting if they are interested in joining the organization. For up-to-date information, students can follow the club’s Instagram page @marlins_asl_club.
By Lauren Faulkner
lafaulkner@vwu.edu
