Furman Feature: Five clubs on campus that would surprise you!

Hello, everyone! In this post, I will introduce to you five unique clubs that can be found on Furman’s campus. Hopefully, you find them as interesting as I have over my two years as a student so far.

A personal favorite, the Anime Club is held every Friday at 7pm in Furman Hall, room 117. When I first entered Furman, I had no idea that this club existed, but it was recommended to me by one of my friends. If this is an interest to you as a student, then this is the place for you! Not only do you get to meet people who share a common hobby, but you also have a communal place where you can watch anime series and anime movies with fellow anime lovers. If you are not an anime lover, don’t worry, because Furman has tons of student organizations/clubs (over 150+)!

The next highlighted club is the Investment Club which is held in the Finance and Business Analytics Lab within Hipp Hall. As per their statement, they are “a student-run campus organization that serves as the sub-advisor for a minority portion of the Furman endowment. The primary goal of FUIC is to give students the opportunity to learn about investments through real-world trading. A secondary goal is to maximize returns while investing assets under management prudently.”

What I find most interesting about this club is that they manage of a portion of our endowment. What they don’t include in their excerpt is that they buy and sell stocks using the Bloomberg Terminals linked to the computers found within the lab. You have access to this whether you are in the club or you become a Business major. Even if you are not a Business, Accounting, or Economics major, you can still partake in this awesome club and learn the basics of stock trading or use the skills gained from this club and apply them to your own personal finances.

For those who are interested in religion as a whole or is a member of a specific group, the Furman Interfaith club, also known as The Interfaith Youth Core is a “national organization with groups on hundreds of campuses across the US. This is the Furman chapter. We promote interfaith tolerance and friendship through service, dinner, and dialogue. We meet each Thursday from 8:30-9:30 PM. We’d love for you to join us. No matter if you are a Christian, Muslim, Deist, Agnostic or anything else, everyone is welcome at the table.” If you so choose to participate in one of these discussions, I think that it is a great way to broaden your understanding of other religions while also helping other people to understand your own. It is a safe space that allows people to explore different religions and perspectives without the fear of being rejected or criticized. Even though many other colleges/universities have their own chapters, I believe it is crucial that Furman offers this club because it shows a dedication to seeking a middle ground between different religions and cultures alike.

Another fascinating club that exists on campus is the Furman University Aikido Club. This club meets Monday and Thursday from 6:30pm to 8pm and on Saturdays from 1:00pm to 2:30pm to train in the PAC Dance Studio on the second floor of the Furman Physical Activities Center. Here is their personal statement regarding Aikido: “The Furman University Aikido Club strives to promote personal well-being and harmony in daily life for all its members through martial arts training, specifically Ki Development and Shinshin Toitsu Aikido as taught by Master Koichi Tohei Sensei. Ki-Aikido emphasizes realizing the natural and original state of unity between mind and body and between self and the universe. Realizing this unity leads students to achieve their full potential in the classroom, at work, in athletics, the performing arts, and in daily life. The Furman University Aikido Club seeks to provide the means by which students can benefit from learning the principles of mind and body coordination. These principles can be learned by men and women of all ages. From children to senior citizens, we encourage everyone to practice together in a safe, compassionate manner. While Aikido is a Japanese art and we wish to preserve its beautiful traditions, anyone, regardless of philosophical and religious persuasion, is always a very welcome member of our organization.” If you are someone who likes to try new things or have a personal interest in Aikido, then make sure to check it out!

Last but very not least, I want to spotlight the Furman University Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Yes, this is a club on campus– a very important one, as well. Per this club’s statement, their purpose is to “inform students about the need to conserve North America’s wetlands, and the many important ways that each person can help in conservation, restoration, and protection. In doing so, we will raise money for conservation through various fun activities throughout the year. Join your fellow classmates on campus and participate in the fun and excitement of our Ducks Unlimited chapter.” If you are either interested in pursuing an occupation that relates to this field of interest or are simply genuinely concerned about the decreasing wetlands, then this is the club for you!

As a final note, thanks for reading, and I hope you have a fantastic day!

-Makena Song