Don't fear the offbeat

The majority of freshmen come to Yale with a pre-formed notion of the kind of extracurricular activity they are seeking. Then one shining realization comes to these otherwise harried freshmen—they are no longer trying to get into college! So there's no need to pad their résumés. Not yet, anyway. To escape the same old singing groups and political organizations, here is a collection of quirky clubs which often go unnoticed.

First, those people with foam swords you see on Cross Campus are simply protecting us all from invading Canadians. The Freestyle Dueling Association (FDA) provides a forum for role-playing enthusiasts who are tired of tabletop gaming and wish for something more. Aside from bi-weekly weapons practices and gaming nights, they attend weekend-long live role-playing games.

The Yale Anti-Gravity Society, Yale's juggling club, was founded for those who enjoy flinging blunt objects at other people's heads in an artful manner. It meets Sundays on Old Campus. Membership is open to all regardless of ability, and the group performs two shows each year. This spring's performance was titled "The Lounge Lizard of Oz" (try to make sense out of that!).

For those who need something a bit more fanciful, the Yale Anime Society is devoted to bringing Japanese-style animation to students. Screenings take place in Silliflicks, a theater in Silliman, on Saturdays at 8 p.m.; bigger screenings are presented in Davies Auditorium. Past fare has included Akira and El-Hazard: The Magnificent World.

There's even an option for those who want to really get away from campus. Yale Outdoors frequently takes weekend trips, and their trip log for this past spring included a hike to New Jersey's highest point (no, it's not an oil tank), overnight biking in Martha's Vineyard, and even a local hike in Sleeping Giant State Park. The group also organizes on-campus demonstrations and rents out equipment.

For anyone who wants something different out of college, organizations like these give college its quirks. Do not be afraid to venture away from the standard frat functions, a capella, or the newspaper to try spearing new friends with foam foils. They'll like it.

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