Don't fear the offbeat

The majority of freshmen come to Yale with a pre-formed notion of the kind of extracurricular activity they like. Then one shining realization comes to these otherwise harried innocents—they are no longer trying to get into college! So there's no need to pad their resumés. 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 not simply protecting us all from invading Canadians. The Freestyle Dueling Association 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 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 a year.

For those who need something a bit more fanciful, the Yale Animé 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 its trip log for this past spring included a hike to New Jersey's highest point, overnight biking on Martha's Vineyard, and a local hike in Sleeping Giant State Park. The group also organizes on-campus demonstrations.

For anyone who wants something different out of college, off-beat organizations like these are what truly give college its quirks and distinguish it from high school. Do not be afraid to venture away from the standard extracurricular fare to try spearing new friends with foam foils. They'll like it.

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