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Club hopping: Club Day on the Mall returns Sept. 11

Photo Credit: xu.edu

A view from the Greenspace.

Jennifer Downing
Senior News Editor

The X-treme Fans’ Crosstown Campout, where hundreds of students in over 60 tents lined Cintas Center for tickets to the men’s basketball game versus Cincinnati, was one of last year’s biggest and most successful events presented by a club for its members.

On Mon., September 11, Club Day on the Mall will once again allow students to sign up to get involved in the hundreds of clubs and student organizations at Xavier. From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., all campus clubs have the opportunity to set up tables and recruit new members.

Senior Willie Byrd, Legislative Vice President of the Student Government Association, is in charge of planning Club Day on the Mall. SGA sponsors the event and has recruited outside companies – such as Papa John’s and Betta’s Italian Oven – to provide students with free food. Because the event falls on September 11, Student Government Association has also arranged a memorial.
Byrd encourages all students to come out to the event: “There’s a club for almost anything anyone could be interested in, and by going to Club Day and just looking around you may find something you’ll fall in love with.”

With over 650 members, X-treme Fans is one of the largest and most prominent clubs on campus. The group caters toward unity and school pride through support of Xavier athletics and puts on many large events throughout the year such as pizza parties, cookouts and road trips to away games.

Last year’s Crosstown Campout, which X-treme Fans President senior Nick Madine calls “one of the most exciting events the group has put on,” gave the club national exposure. “By having games on ESPN during basketball season, people across the nation notice us and our support not only for athletics, but also for the fellow student-athletes themselves,” Madine said.

Other club presidents will be at Club Day to provide insight into their organizations.

Senior Sheran Oradu, president of the International Student Society, is excited to have new students participate in some of the major events the group has already planned, such as the Latin Dance, Cross-Cultural Retreat or the international dinner and fashion show.

“A lot of guys love the intramural soccer team,” Oradu said. “You have people on the field and you’ll hear Spanish or Japanese. Since it is an international group and many people speak many different languages, soccer just brings everyone together so easily.”

The group is a home base for over 200 students from all over the world.

The Black Student Association’s president, senior Rachel Bonds, says one of her favorite club memories was last year’s “No Talent Show.” Students “showcased their talent, or lack thereof, for cash prizes,” she said.

For Bonds, however, the Black Student Association is more than a social group.
“BSA is a wonderful support system for African-American students on campus, and it encourages students at Xavier to appreciate cultural differences and to learn from one another. Since its purpose is one that I’m passionate about, I couldn’t imagine not being involved with the BSA,” she said.

Through her work with Alternative Breaks, senior Beth Carver spent spring break 2006 working and serving with members of the Cherokee Nation community in Oklahoma.

Carver is president of the group, a club that annually sends Xavier students to national and international service sites to experience new cultures, perspectives and places.

“With 18 trips this year, that means around 200 students can participate in Alternative Breaks. We are working hard to add a fifth international trip, and plans are underway for our third annual mystery trip, she explained.”

Xavier Players, a theater group, is anticipating its upcoming season, which will debut with Steel Magnolias on Thurs., October 19.

“Our program is unique because students can participate in every aspect of a production from acting and stage managing to writing and directing,” said Dan Maloney, president of Xavier Players.

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The end of Soupie’s

Jennifer Downing
Senior News Editor

Farewell, Soupie’s Bar and Grille. The establishment in Norwood Plaza closed its doors this summer, although it is still undergoing a series of appeals.

“Soupie’s was a large problem for our community in terms of crime,” said Assistant Law Director of the Norwood Police Department, Ted Kiser.

According to Kiser, Norwood Police Department “initiated an objection filed with the liquor commission where we argued that Soupie’s should not have their liquor license renewed.”

Though violations against Soupie’s Bar and Grille are still in the appeals process, Kiser indicated that the owners of Norwood Plaza filed an eviction notice.

Hearings have been held downtown at the Common Police Court and, most recently, at the Court of Appeals.

“I intend to fight to keep the license from being renewed. We’re not dropping any appeals and we expect to prevail,” said Kiser.

Chief Couch of the Xavier Police Department explained that he received notice to bring forth records concerning Soupie’s Bar and Grille.

“We went through our records and had roughly six reports of assaults, fights, robbery, sexual assault and underage drinking where the origin of these events began or escalated in Soupie’s or its parking lot.”

“These reports were brought to a hearing in Columbus,” said Chief Couch.
“I feel that Soupie’s as an establishment created problems for the university. The reality is we had a lot of incidents in terms of safety – fights broke out. Frankly, I’m pleased,” said Luther Smith, Dean of Students.

Despite rumors that indicated otherwise, Kiser said that Betta’s Italian Oven has not received a liquor license. There has been speculation that the Montgomery Ave. restaurant would be granted a license in lieu of Soupie’s.

Published since 1915 by the students of Xavier University

Club hopping: Club Day on the Mall returns Sept. 11

The end of Soupie’s