By Sthefany Flores
Gardner-Webb has recently added the Japanese Club among its list of approved clubs. The club was jumpstarted when several Japanese students from Chiba University visited Gardner-Webb last year. The welcome party that was given in honor of the students allowed for a group of students interested in Japanese culture to gather.
According to Japanese Club president, Nikole Roland, the visit was an essential push for starting the club.
“A group of students who met during the reception party for Chiba University talked and followed through to create an environment where students and faculty can come together and enjoy something that we love and to share this interest close to our hearts with others,” said Roland.
“We have highly a organized leadership, they have been planning to create this club since the last week of March,” said Dr. Lorene Pagcaliwagan, Japanese Club sponsor and associate professor of French and Spanish. They have already held an event in the short time that they have become an official club.
Roland says the main goal of the club is “to share with the school and community the rich and diverse culture of Japan, as well as promoting an environment where people can be themselves.”
A long term goal, however, is to install Japanese into the language curriculum along with a possible exchange program.
The Japanese Club is already active, organizing anime nights and an origami project. Roland said that all their future events will have a common goal, “that a whole new world is revealed to people and [to] increase the cultural diversity on campus.”
