Roughly 20 student clubs are active this fall, but most are meeting via Zoom, according to the Student Government Association president.

Some clubs, like the Adventure Society and Active Minds, have met off-campus for hikes or rock-climbing, while others have hosted online movie nights and in-person and virtual meetings. 

The Student Veterans Association is holding meetings online.

“That way, you know, people don’t have to come here if they’re far away or they don’t have to be” on campus anyway, Jake Hensley, a first-year student and club member, said. “If we’re limited by space, or if we’re limited by availability, it is just a lot easier to drop in on your phones or drop in with your computer.” 

Student Government Association President Ben Nussbaumer said more clubs are online than on campus “just because of restrictions and stuff and like that. A lot of people don’t want to leave home just yet, which is understandable.”

Adventure Society President Hannah Claggett, an environmental science student who will graduate this semester, said her club’s members prefer to meet in person.

“I think it’s nice because then we get to go on adventures … outside together and it’s a great way to meet other people that might not be in your classes,” she said.

But Nussbaumer said some clubs are having difficulty recruiting for in-person events.

“Recruiting definitely has been a touch more difficult this semester than [in] past ones because of like, you know, COVID and stuff like that,” Nussbaumer said. “Normally, people will be in person more.”

Entrepreneurs Club member Jesse Trott agreed that club meetings are better in person. He estimated his club has more than 20 members.

 “We can do our club, our meetings, on Zoom, but it loses part of the crowd, and part of just the feel of community and getting together and pooling these ideas that you just can’t get on Zoom,” Trott said. “Especially since the lockdown … we’re a lot less social.”