Philosophy Club Springs into Action at the Start of the Semester
The fall semester has started and the philosophy club is welcoming new and returning students to meet every Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. in the LA-102 room. Club members will engage in meaningful discussions while exchanging ideas and beliefs to have a better understanding of themselves and others.
Following the club fair, the philosophy club is promoting philosophical endeavors through student-led discussions. The meetings are fairly informal, and members are welcome to come and go during any point and may stay for however long they like.
The advisor of the club, Professor Derek Ayala, stated that meetings have included topics such as “the existence of God, to AI and Art, the philosophy of conflict, identity through fashion, and most recently, the paradox of tolerance.” The president of the club will typically send out an email prior to club meetings with information regarding what will be discussed, so students can brainstorm ideas beforehand. These emails may also include helpful resources relating to philosophy.
On other occasions, a guest speaker will appear. Violet Pomaville, a member of the philosophy club last semester, claims that when the weather was nice, meetings would sometimes occur outside. She states directly that the club was “an opportunity to express [her] creative thoughts” and that “there were always at least over ten people,” so discussions were often lively and entertaining. In her opinion, one of the most notable meetings was one with a topic revolving around AI, and that in general, the club was very enjoyable.
It’s never too late to join the philosophy club- you don’t even need to be in a philosophy class! The philosophy club is available for every student to join, even if they only want to stay for a brief amount of time or attend a meeting every once in a while.
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Hi Regan! I really enjoyed reading about how the Philosophy Club at GCC is very much encouraging such an open and inviting space for students this semester. It is refreshing to hear that meetings in LA102 are kept casual and informal, allowing people to drop in whenever they can without feeling pressured. Many campus clubs can feel very stressful or have that feeling of anxiety if you aren’t already enrolled in related classes, so emphasizing that anyone can participate, even without taking a philosophy course is a fantastic way to encourage student engagement that isn’t a part of the philosophy course.
The range of topics highlighted by Professor Ayala from the ethics surrounding AI and art to complex ideas like the paradox of tolerance sounds incredibly relevant to issues we see almost everyday. It’s also inspiring to hear past members like Violet Pomaville speak so positively about their experiences, especially how the club served as a creative space and a place for lively debates that can happen. Holding outdoor meetings when the weather is nice sounds like an ideal environment for brainstorming and open discussion. Articles like this do a wonderful job highlighting the quality of student life options available at Glendale Community College. Thank you for covering this story about the philosophy club and reminding us all of the value in coming together to share diverse perspectives and build a thoughtful community on campus!
Hello Regan,
I enjoyed reading about how the Philosophy Club creates an informal environment where students can openly exchange ideas. especially liked that students do not have to be enrolled in a philosophy class to participate. It’s a great way to make philosophical discussions more accessible to people who may not normally consider themselves interested in philosophy and bring different points of view and experiences that could be shared. The variety of topics mentioned in the article, such as AI and art, identity through fashion, and the paradox of tolerance, shows how philosophy can connect to everyday life. One question I had while reading is how the club chooses its discussion topics. Do they select topics based on current events, student interests, or suggestions from club members? I think allowing students to help choose topics could make the discussion even more engaging because then they would have a personal connection to what they are discussing. Does the club record or summarize interesting discussions for students who can’t attend? Overall, the club sounds like a welcoming space for students to challenge their own assumptions while learning from different perspectives.
Hi Regan, I thought this was a pretty interesting article because it showed that the philosophy club is open to pretty much anyone who wants to join, even if they aren’t taking a philosophy class. I liked how you explained what actually happens during the meetings instead of just saying that students meet to talk about philosophy. The examples of topics like the existence of God, AI and art, and identity through fashion made the club sound more interesting because there are a lot of different topics students can talk about. I also liked that you included a quote from Professor Derek Ayala because it gave more information about the types of discussions the club has. The quote from Violet Pomaville was also helpful because she was someone who actually participated in the club and was able to explain what her experience was like. One thing I think that could make the article even better would be adding a little more information about how students can join the club, such as whether they need to sign up somewhere online, in person, or just show up to a meeting. Overall, I think you did a good job showing that the philosophy club is a relaxed place where students can share their opinions, learn about different ideas, and meet other people with similar interests to them.