Troy University’s American Sign Language (ASL) club had their first meeting of the semester, introducing themselves to new members and planning future events.
The ASL club is a student organization dedicated to the continued education of ASL, from having meetings teaching the basics to holding movie nights with films featuring deaf characters or actors.
“For the ASL club, the goal is to grow the ASL and interpreting programs, and the goal of that is to offer interpreting services to deaf consumers through American Sign Language,” said ASL Club President Katie Godwin, a senior interpreting major from Raymer, Alabama.
“The goal of the club is to be able to open it up to all Troy students.
“Any Troy student can come to meetings and gain a basic knowledge of ASL and interact with deaf people.”
On Thursday, Godwin and the officers of the ASL club introduced themselves to new members, and they discussed potential meeting topics and events for the semester.
Additionally, the ASL club’s interpreter coordinator interpreted the meeting in ASL for the members.
Some of their plans for the semester include bringing in speakers with professional interpreting experience, movie nights and a tailgate day, where students can meet deaf community members.
“They mentioned a [potential] Halloween party, and Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I’m very excited for that,” said Olivia Watts, a freshman interpretation major from Huntsville, Alabama. “I also think the movie night they were talking about would be really cool because I love watching people sign.
“It's so cool to me being able to see someone have a conversation without speaking.”
While having fun meetings and events, the ASL club focuses on giving students a space to learn and practice the language.
The club may be encouraged for ASL and interpreting majors; however, students of all majors are welcome to join and learn something new.
“There can be a little bit of a stigma against people with different disabilities or hearing loss, but everybody just needs to understand that nobody’s really that different from you,” said ASL club Vice President Hannah Champion, an interpreting major from Thomasville, Alabama. “Sign language is one thing that if everybody knows a little bit about, you never know who you could meet or help out one day.”
The ASL club’s next meeting will be Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in Hawkins Hall room 117.
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