Eastern Club finds its direction with inaugural meeting
Club plans to learn Japanese, eat Asian food
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
About 16 students attended the Eastern Club's first meeting last night in Lane Hall. Under the guidance of Club President Maddie Merritt, a sophomore, the students designed an agenda for next semester and beyond.
"Basically the focus of this club will be learning about anything from the Eastern world, whatever the heck you people want," Merritt said.
The students present suggested Asian food nights, martial arts exhibitions and occasional guest speakers, such as Professor of Psychology Fritz Tsao, an avid fan of Asian cinema, and Provost Bob Blackstock's son, Chris Blackstock, who will soon return from teaching English in Shimizu, Japan.
Merritt said the group will focus most heavily on language, however. She hopes it will meet once a week starting next semester to study Japanese. Merritt will lead the lessons, as she can speak Japanese at a third-grade level.
Fifth-year senior Travis James, who started teaching himself Japanese a year ago, said he is excited to have a teacher like Merritt. He thinks the club will help other students as well.
"If a group like this is dedicated to meeting and studying it could be very rewarding," he said. "This will hopefully generate lots of interest in cultures Hillsdale students are not typically familiar with."
As of press time, the group had no further plans to convene until after Christmas Break. Associate Professor of English John Somerville, one of the club's advisers, said the club will announce another meeting after classes start next semester, and will eventually establish a more rigid schedule.
"Basically the focus of this club will be learning about anything from the Eastern world, whatever the heck you people want," Merritt said.
The students present suggested Asian food nights, martial arts exhibitions and occasional guest speakers, such as Professor of Psychology Fritz Tsao, an avid fan of Asian cinema, and Provost Bob Blackstock's son, Chris Blackstock, who will soon return from teaching English in Shimizu, Japan.
Merritt said the group will focus most heavily on language, however. She hopes it will meet once a week starting next semester to study Japanese. Merritt will lead the lessons, as she can speak Japanese at a third-grade level.
Fifth-year senior Travis James, who started teaching himself Japanese a year ago, said he is excited to have a teacher like Merritt. He thinks the club will help other students as well.
"If a group like this is dedicated to meeting and studying it could be very rewarding," he said. "This will hopefully generate lots of interest in cultures Hillsdale students are not typically familiar with."
As of press time, the group had no further plans to convene until after Christmas Break. Associate Professor of English John Somerville, one of the club's advisers, said the club will announce another meeting after classes start next semester, and will eventually establish a more rigid schedule.
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