Club of the Week: Animal Club

By Marly Williams /// Staff Writer

It’s no news that Lewis & Clark students are exceptionally active and service-oriented. Newsweek recently ranked the college fifth in the nation for most service-oriented students, reflecting the community’s passion and commitment to a greater cause. This includes everything from supporting humanitarian issues like solutions to hunger and poverty to participating in the Peace Corps, as well as aiding a cause that is often overshadowed or dismissed: animal rights.

Animal Club provides students with the opportunity to share their love of animals while spreading awareness and giving a voice to those who really can’t speak for themselves.

Club President Chloe Waterman ('12), who wants to pursue a career in animal law and whose favorite animal is a three-toed sloth, co-founded the club when she was a freshman. “The club really has a two-part mission of appreciation and advocacy,” said Waterman. “In my opinion, the injustices that are happening to animals are some of the most severe injustices happening today.”

While the club has about 25 active members, over 300 students have attended various Animal Club-related events since the club’s founding. The club meets sporadically to discuss animal issues and club plans, and their main goal is to host events for the community, allowing everyone to get involved and their message to spread beyond club meetings. These events include lectures, film screenings, field trips and ongoing volunteer opportunities at places like Oregon Humane Center and Fences for Fido.

This semester promises to be an exciting and productive time for Animal Club.

This week, Animal Club sponsored a Pay-Per-View movie event. They paid students $1 to watch a film exposing the cruel practices of factory farms and handed out relevant literature about the issue.

This Sunday the 26th at 6 p.m., there will be a celebratory potluck in the Co-op. Bring your favorite animal-friendly dish and come to share in the delicious food and animal loving.

Other upcoming events include field trips to the Oregon Primate Reserve and Wolf Haven International as well as helping with the highly popular Puppy Day event.

Email Chloe Waterman at animalclub@lclark.edu to get involved.