May 10, 2004
Quirky niche clubs cater to diverse tastes
By Lauren Andres
Staff writer

Engaging in mock medieval combat, tangoing across a ballroom floor and potato sack racing are not exactly resume builders.

But students regularly set aside a few hours each week carving out their niches through the hundreds of campus clubs that cater to every whim.

For example, one organization aims to "develop an awareness of what piece of work a man or woman is, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties É in particular to enjoy the good game of badminton."

Every possible whim.

The Ballroom at Maryland club not only teaches the sensual tango, but the standard foxtrot, quickstep and rumba as well.

"I first discovered BAM at the First Look Fair on the mall," said Lauri Kurdziel, a sophomore zoology major. "I went to a free lesson, and haven't been able to stop dancing ever since."

Now the vice president of BAM, Kurdziel appreciates both the short- and long-term advantages of knowing how to dance.

"Not only is it great exercise, but I will be able to waltz at my wedding, and I love that," said Kurdziel.

In addition to picking up new skills, student clubs offer an opportunity to keep up with current ones.

Joanne Scher, a sophomore environmental science and policy major, fenced competitively on her Illinois high school team for four years.

Scher joined the Fencing Club to keep her sabre, foil and epee sharp, but said the people are the best part.

"At fencing tournaments you will meet the nicest set of strangers," Scher said. "[They] are willing to lend you equipment when yours breaks, offer you advice when you need it, or just offer a kind word after you have tried your hardest and lost or a hearty slap on the back when you win."

The Maryland Medieval Mercenary Militia is one part combat, one part history. The club's members recreate medieval battles, forge their own weapons and practice their fighting skills when they're not traveling.

Natalya Nakhshin, a 19-year-old computer science major and this year's club warlord, said combat is her favorite part.

"I've been doing this for a year and a half and love everything about it, especially counting the bruises after an event," Nakhshin said.

Stephen Merkel, a junior archaeology and art history major and the current vice warlord, savors metalworking as one of the ways to participate.

"With any medieval craft, there are either people that do it, or are interested in learning how to do it," Merkel said.

Other clubs, like the Irish Fraternal Union, offer an ethnic outlet for students.

This year, the IFU attended the St. Patrick's Day parade in Washington and watched the movie The Boondock Saints, and next year they plan to bring bagpipes and Irish dancing to the campus.

And if the IFU executive board cannot reach a consensus on an issue, a potato sack race on McKeldin Mall will determine the winner.

Nathan Kennedy, a sophomore criminology and criminal justice and government and politics major, said the method remains untested, but the group is serious about implementing it should the need arise.

An alphabetical list of student groups is available at http://stars.umd.edu. Contact information, website addresses and mission statements are included.