Finding the balance between socializing and informing, Oakland University’s Sociology Club aims to host fun meetings every two weeks. On Nov. 22, a “Gratitude Collaging” meeting was held in the Oakland Center as one of the last events of the semester.
The meeting was held to create personalized and handmade crafts for the Thanksgiving holidays to share with family, friends or pets. Zines, thank-you-cards and collages were just a few of the gifts made with dozens of magazines and art supplies.
The event was run by the all-sociology major E-Board — President Kate Bird, Vice-President Madison Kattula, Treasurer Sierra Spry and Secretary Kelsey Rife.
Now a staple of the club, hand-made crafts have been a popular part of their meetings, Spry explained. “[Crafts] are so interdisciplinary, and we try to teach sociology and education through a very hands-on way,” Spry said.
Magazines as old as the 90s made up the stacks of colorful paper turned into end-of-the-year gifts by attendees.
“We also connect it to DIY and make it a lesson on consumerism, trying to teach people that you can make something yourself with the magazines that you have or construction paper,” Spry said.
Zine days, DIY fridge magnets and game nights have built up the community surrounding the club while expanding on the themes the organization stands for.
“Last spring, we did a zine event where it was kind of the same thing, but it was more so about being able to spread very strong messaging on things that we personally believe in,” Spry said. “Zines and booklets are new ways to articulate thoughts and opinions and spread that information.”
With the last event of the semester being a study session event for finals, the E-Board explained how the sociology club has helped them understand the needs and wants of their membership.
“I think it’s really taught me to kind of learn how to tune in to what students really want out of an org and kind of what kind of atmosphere they want,” Spry said. “Also how to use sociology in a very literal, hands-on way, and help to show people how meaningful and useful sociology is.”
With the phrase “craft your stress away” as part of their advertising, the sociology club E-Board has created a new identity for an almost 10-year-old student organization. The relaxing atmosphere has shifted gears from the previous presentations on human trafficking awareness five years ago. Spry explained this has been a helpful effort to create a more welcoming environment for attendees and E-Board members, allowing non-sociology majors to participate in these fun events.
The black and pink colored rebranding has not led to a lack of academic relevance as some of their events focus on networking with other sociology students or analyzing the sociological discourses of Halloween media.
“It’s definitely taught me a lot of ways to kind of manifest those desires that I had when I first helped Kate start the club,” Spry said.
For more information on future Sociology Club meetings, please visit their Linktree, GrizzOrgs or their Instagram page.
