Clubs Old and New Gather for Club Row’s “Fall Harvest”

(Mariely Alaniz/The Corsair)

The unusually torrid heat pervading the October air didn’t stop Santa Monica College’s (SMC) clubs from taking this year’s Club Row theme of “Fall Harvest” into full effect. Taking place during activity hour on Thursday, October 24, club representatives weaved around curious students with enthusiasm, pulling pockets of different students to interactive tables lining the main campus quad. 

SMC’s Inter-Club Council (ICC) aimed to make Club Row more inclusive and elaborate compared to previous years. One of these changes included the decorations all around, including festive garlands, carved pumpkins, and participatory costumes from various clubs.

“Compared to other years, we’ve never decorated this much or had so much community involvement, and we’re really proud of that,” noted ICC Chair Natalie Lim.

ICC Vice Chair Gabriella Montgomery incorporated ping-pong tables, inflatable jousting courses, and inflatable basketball hoops as attractions to students permeating the quad. To Montgomery, these additions to club row kept students within the quad and further engaged the crowds.

“The more games and entertainment [we] have, the more people will stay and interact with different clubs and meet new people,” said Montgomery.

ICC encouraged each club to adhere to the theme of “Fall Harvest” with the incentive of $150, $100, and $50 prizes awarded to the clubs who incorporate the theme best. The Black Collegians club used a “pumpkin patch” of cookies and pies for sale both to celebrate the autumnal theme and to raise money for their club. Other clubs took a more out-of-the-box approach, like Students for Justice in Palestine, who used Club Row as an opportunity to share the history of harvests and agriculture in Palestine. The Student Veteran Association (SVA) took the approach of giving out Maruchan Instant Noodles, energy drinks, and other niche goods to students. Bel Jacob, President of SVA, explained that doing so “would be fun… [since] college students use the same things, just as the military used while they were deployed.”

Traditions carried on through well established organizations, from Alpha Gamma Sigma’s In-N-Out sales to the Music Club’s live performances. Some clubs rose up from an inactive spell, like IDEAS at SMC, a club dedicated to providing resources and a safe space for undocumented students.

“We were inactive for a really long time, I think about two years… We’re starting to come back up now, and it’s been really cool,” said IDEAS Club president Karla Herrera. 

Reflecting on this year’s Club Row compared to the last, Montgomery believes it “was a success.”

“This is my fourth club row since I’ve been at SMC, just seeing how it’s been done, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crowd stay like it has before,” said Montgomery.