A new school year brings a new RSO to SVSU, and the scrapbooking club makes its debut as a creative outlet for students who are interested in scrapbooking and meeting new people.
Founder and President of the scrapbooking club, sophomore sociology major Carlie Smith, explains she started the club this fall to offer students a chance to unwind.
“I really wanted a casual club on campus,” Smith said. “I found myself getting stressed about going to clubs and making sure I’m there, and what if I miss one and I’m so far behind … I wanted to create a club that was casual, but also a place that’s welcoming.”
The club meets every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the TSAR and offers a relaxed environment where students can use the space however they choose. The E-Board consists of Smith as president, Lance Tachna as creative director, and Carter Poniatowski as treasurer.
“You can socialize for two hours. You can do homework if you want. You can sit in a corner with headphones on and do your own thing,” Smith said. “I just wanted to make a space that allowed people to hang out for two hours and come and go as they please. If they can’t make it to the first half, no one’s going to look at them weird when they come in an hour late.”
Katie Busch, junior psychology major, said the club has helped her make time for a hobby she has always enjoyed.
“I’ve always liked scrapbooking, and I often struggle to find time to do it,” Busch said. “When I saw they started this club, I thought, that would be so much fun, and it will make me set aside time to do it.”
The scrapbooking club requires no experience necessary. Amy O’Brian, sophomore nursing major, joined the club as a first-time scrapbooker.
“My mom has always done scrapbooking, and I thought with how stacked my schedule was this year, that this would be a nice way to decompress at the end of the week,” O’Brian said. “It’s definitely a really nice [hands-on] way to de-stress.”
Both Busch and O’Brian said they would recommend the club to other students.
“It’s just a fun way to try something new if you haven’t done it before, and also put your memories into a book,” Busch said.
The members can choose the music genre played each week by voting through a weekly Instagram poll or during the club meetings.
At meetings, students can bring their own supplies or can use the donated materials, like cardstock and stickers. The club is working to secure funding through allocations this semester to cover supplies and purchase a photo printer for members to use.
“I really want [the club] to become self-sufficient,” Smith said.
To donate supplies, you can either leave supplies during the meetings in the TSAR, or reach out to the club’s Instagram, @svsuscrapbooking.
“A lot of us spend a lot of time on homework. Most of us have jobs, and I think it’s so important to set aside time to force yourself to relax and focus on something else,” Smith said. “You know it’s going to be welcoming … just two hours of your week to unwind or have fun.”
