Friends Club to Promote Campus Cooperation

A new campus organization founded by Tadayoshi Kaneko, called the Friends Club, strives to provide a more unified University of Bridgeport campus. As their mission statement reads, “This club’s purpose is to get to know each other, to get to know other cultures, and to establish better relationships.” The club commenced their meetings with an introductory meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 8:30pm, meetings will continue on a weekly basis. As a kickoff for this new club, the members organized, with the help of CARP, their first social event of the semester which occurred Sunday, September 18. This involved, in total, about 30 people (about 10 from the Friends Club, 20 from CARP) enjoying an evening of Japanese food and culture at a local restaurant. With the Japanese food and atmosphere combined with the group playing domestic games, such as Monopoly, it was the perfect blend of cultures that the Friends Club wanted in their activities. As club president, Tadayoshi says, “It’s better to work with others.”
The club has a goal to let all of its members decide on its activities. Therefore, while an executive board is needed on paper, the idea of roles of leadership is not the goal of the Friends Club, but rather to have everyone equally decide the club’s fate. As club member, Kevin Russell explains, “We list all the suggestions we make as possible things that the club might do in the future.” Activities suggested by the club include hiking, bowling, volleyball, fishing, and barbeques. Another goal of the club is to provide the UB community with alternative events from the normal routine college life. UB studemt, Nathan Breland states, “I think this club is a good idea because it focuses on building a positive college life, because it lets students do something fun they want to do with other students supporting it, without the drinking associated with college parties.” As one of the university’s newest clubs, the Friends Club is small but has ideas that give it the ability to grow and flourish. The club is open to all University of Bridgeport students with a desire to have their ideas and plans heard. Meeting are every Tuesday as 8:30 in the Student Center lobby. Come find out how you can be a part of planning events on campus.