Groups

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2BEATS is a hip-hop dance group made up of a group of individuals from a broad range of dance backgrounds united in our passion and love of dance. Rehearsals are once or twice every week depending on dancers’ schedules and performances. We aim to perform at Bates’ major events and dancers who choose to perform can expect extra rehearsals and a faster pace class environment. We wish to create a positive, supportive, and safe community where anyone, regardless of experience can teach, choreograph, or have fun learning Hip-Hop. There will be opportunities to hold classes for both the Bates and Lewiston/Auburn communities and to take master classes with professionals. Come join 2BEATS and let’s put some swag in the Bates community!

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Aceplus is a dance and art group made up of Asian artists. With our roots in Asian culture, the group has since evolved to encompass a wide range of choreography and music. We also have a tight relationship with Asian contemporary art and have enormous interest in producing Asian pop culture related product design/ graphic design ( based on the dance group Aceplus). So, in short, Aceplus is not only a dance group but also an artistic space focus specifically on Asian art.
We aim to help promote the Asian dance/art community and provide a shared, inclusive space for our members to grow and support one another. As a mixed gender, multicultural group, we value originality, diversity and creativity in our dances. We hope that our presence will make a reflection of Bates’ diverse and creative environment. Ourselves as Asian artists wish to support and try to challenge the fact that Asian artists have been long marginalized in western culture. ( we welcome all cultrual background prospective members but we mainly focus on showing and presenting Asian Arts.
We can deliver a unique and pleasurable visual experience based on Asian culture to the Lewiston/ Auburn community. We will be honored if we can perform for the Lewiston/Auburn community.

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Africana Club celebrates the African continent in its entirety. We provide a forum for discussing the political, social, and cultural landscape of Africa. Although we strive to create a medium for African students to connect, Africana is open to students of all backgrounds who are interested in engaging in this dialogue.
We urge members to network with one another, grow strong ties within the community, and uplift each other. Through our annual fashion show, we seek to reclaim the African narrative that is often misrepresented in the mainstream by showcasing African culture and talent. We recognize the diversity of experiences within Africa and aspire to shed light on them. Most importantly at Africana, we pride ourselves on the strength of our community, and our mission to uplift one another.

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Members of the Africana club get to learn more about the African continent by interacting with students from the continent and exploring its diversity through entertainment, food, politics etc

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ASL club seeks to give students the opportunity to learn American Sign Language and engage with the deaf community. We work with an instructor as well as online resources to learn and practice signing with other members.

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ASA (Asian Students Association) is an organization for students interested in exploring, discussing, and partaking in Asian culture. We achieve this by bringing together students who identify as Asian and who have a curiosity about the culture to foster awareness of the histories, peoples, and cultures on campus. ASA is a new club due to the combination of AASIA (Asian American Student in Action) and Sangai Asia. We hope to continue to host cooking nights for the Bates community, enjoy communal dinners with authentic Asian cooking, provocative discussion nights where we delve into difficult dialogues, and celebrate cultural celebrations such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Nauryz. ASA serves as a resource for anyone in the Bates community interested in talking about topics that affect Asian communities in or outside the United States (adoption, immigration, assimilation, cultural differences) and for students interested in Asian identity.

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The Aspirations Club is a group of students who work to support the post-high school aspirations of youth in the Lewiston Auburn Area. In conjunction with the Harward Center for Community Partnership, Aspirations Program, the Aspirations Club achieves its goal to support the aspirations of LA youth by organizing Bates students to participate in local mentoring programs, such as the Lewiston High School and Auburn Middle School Mentorship Program; the organization of Aspirations Days hosted at Bates College; and a community for students who are eager to deepen their understanding of about college access inequities and post-high school opportunities in the Lewiston Auburn community. The Aspiration Club aims to accomplish these goals because of a recognized need for post-high school programming in the Lewiston Auburn area. In Lewiston High School (LHS), the college attendance rate follows the low statewide rates of attendance, with only 59% of graduates enrolling in a vocational or secondary school (Maine Department of Education, 2021). Additionally, LHS lags behind in the average high school graduation rate in Maine, with only 66.95% of students graduating as compared to the state average of 86% in 2021 (Maine Department of Education, 2021). Research points toward positive, adult mentorship and guidance as a tool for greater educational and general life success of mentees, a role which the Aspiration Clubs will center its efforts around (Bowers et al. 2014; Dubois, Herrera & Rivera 2018). We believe the Aspirations Club does have a stake in this work as being a part of an elite higher education institution, we believe that Bates College has a responsibility to engage with the Lewiston-Auburn youth to reduce access barriers to post-high school opportunities when requested by community members and partners. This practice will ideally allow for resources and institutional higher education knowledge to be distributed beyond the Bates Campus to the benefit of LA youth while also providing Bates students with a deep connection with members of the LA community and an enriching educational opportunity.

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The Bates Badminton Club, as an embodiment of athletic spirit and cultural diversity, aims to champion the sport of badminton within Bates College and the broader Lewiston-Auburn communities. Recognizing badminton's significant popularity in Asia and its burgeoning interest in the United States, the club is dedicated to fostering a welcoming environment that bridges cultural gaps through the sport. Our mission extends beyond mere engagement in physical activity; it is to cultivate a nurturing space that promotes not only the competitive spirit of badminton but also the values of health, wellness, and camaraderie. In line with Bates College's commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle, we endeavor to make badminton accessible to all skill levels, nurturing an inclusive community bonded through shared love for the game.

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The Bates Arts Society is a place of community for artists with the necessary resources required to uplift creative people on campus and engage them into the larger Lewiston-Auburn community in an artistic and creative manner. The Bates Arts Society encourages students of all disciplines to continue the Bates College Mission of being “sustained by a love of learning” through artistic explorations of the world around them. Our goal is to provide the space and resources for students who want to learn about new artistic media, explore old artistic media, or host art-related events on campus. We have exclusive access to a shared studio space, storage for any and all personal supplies, and a budget allocated specifically for students interested in artistic residencies. We understand that creative spaces are essential to self discovery. They are important places that depend on inclusion and facilitate community through shared interests and learning from each other.

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Access to funding, an artistic community and shared studio space.

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The Astronomy Club's mission is to provide opportunities for the Bates and Lewiston-Auburn communities to engage in astronomical activities like stargazing and telescope sessions. We aim to motivate a sense of wonder and curiosity, as well as a sense of belonging for everyone when looking up at the night sky. We will learn together and educate each other on topics spanning modern and indigenous astronomy and cosmologies. Participation in the Club and its activities is open to everyone regardless of their level of astronomical, physical, or mathematical knowledge.

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Bates Christian Fellowship is a large and diverse family of students. We strive to grow in love for God and God's people of every ethnicity and culture, and to come to a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. There are many small groups that meet weekly for Bible study, discussion, and prayer. There are also larger weekly meetings for everyone to gather together for worship, sharing and planning. The Fellowship hosts many events throughout the year. Many of them are service opportunities on campus or in the Lewiston community and others are just fun times for the campus to gather and share His Love. Our activities are always open to the entire Bates community students, faculty and staff. BCF is associated with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

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Guided by the fundamental principles of the American Red Cross and its mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors, the Bates College Red Cross Club will learn, practice and exemplify humanitarian values through mission-related service projects.

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The purpose of this club is to create a space for individuals from underrepresented communities to come together to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This club will function as a support system for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) individuals. We intend to bring in established alumni from underrepresented communities to share their stories of success and note how their diverse backgrounds and identities played a role in their career journeys. This club will offer support, companionship, inspiration, and facilitate success by fostering young diverse leaders.

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The Bates Historical Society seeks to offer an environment in which individuals can come together to share our passion for what was. To learn about the past is to understand the forces that make the present. History is not an isolated subject. Implicitly, when we learn about politics, economics, math, physics, etc., we are learning about a long process of adaptation, experimentation, writing, thinking, some failures and some brilliant successes; understanding the way the world was helps us recognize the forces that animate our present, not just what we would traditionally call history, the simple facts of the past, but rather all facets of human experience.

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Our mission is to support Bates students majoring in politics or taking politics classes with advice and tutoring to ensure their academic success and enhanced understanding of politics.

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The Bates Musicians Union represents an inclusive community of bands, musical artists, sound technicians, and performers coming together to organize and host live music events for Bates College and venues in the surrounding community. We are an independent resource from the Music Department that provides sound equipment, instruments, and rehearsal space to musicians who wish to form bands and further explore their instruments.

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Our mission as a robotics club is to offer students opportunities for technical immersion within the liberal arts environment. We feel it is important to make this subject accessible to people of all backgrounds, in a place where students can grow, develop, and share ideas. We aim to promote an environment where students can develop skills and learn from one another, fostering a community of innovators and makers. As part of our mission to foster this environment, we hope to extend these ideals to the greater Lewiston-Auburn region through community oriented events. By offering students an environment where students can become aware of interests and develop skills in the many disciplines of robotics, the club intersects with the missions of the College and Campus Life: contributing to intellectual discovery, exploration, and helping encourage the development of more rounded individuals.

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The Black Student Union at Bates College is a sociocultural organization committed to cultivating spaces for African-American and Black diasporic students. Our goal is to foster unity amongst one another through programming and social events that are centered around shared experiences. We value the diverse perspectives of Black people and take the initiative to support intersectionality amongst individuals. The Black Student Union fosters connections with the Lewiston/Auburn community to create a richer experience for all.

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The Bollywood Dance Team is focused on introducing Bollywood dancing, a unique and exciting culture of dancing inspired by the huge film industry, to the Bates campus and nearby community. We provide numerous workshops for Bates students and community members, and have performances throughout the year which are open to any student regardless of their dancing background. In this way, we hope to foster an energized and open dancing space, while sharing a cultural experience.

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Our organization exists for the purpose of celebrating the Caribbean and its people. We are primarily an organization that seeks to both enrich the Bates experience of our members by increasing the integration of Caribbean students within the Bates community and to foster lifelong relationships through cultural programming aimed at building community between the two. We hope to illustrate the power of difference by allowing any student to join and learn as well.

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The Catholic Student Community is the Roman Catholic affiliated organization at Bates College. The group works alongside the College’s Catholic Chaplain in organizing a weekly Mass and other spiritual activities such as prayer/discussion meetings and dinner meetings. The group is also active in the Lewiston community, volunteering with local churches and charitable organizations.

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The purpose of the Bates College Cheese Club is to create a space for those who love cheese while educating our members about the cheeses of the world. Cheese is an expensive commodity and we want to make it accessible to all. Further, we hope to bring in cheese experts from all over to spread knowledge of the cheese-making process. We hope to hold events pertaining to the consumption of cheeses and related to learning more about it, such as blind cheese tasting, watching educational films, and going on trips to local dairy farms. We hope to partner with these farms to learn how to make cheese and foster a connection to the broader Maine community. We do not believe there is a club that fulfills this need at present. Additionally, we pledge to be a welcoming and inclusive space that encourages diversity of thought regarding cheese (which can be a surprisingly controversial topic given agriculture) as well as all other topics.

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The Bates Chemical Society is a chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS). We strive to acquaint students with ACS, aid in the choice of a career or graduate school, and spark curiosity and passion for chemistry in Bates and the greater Lewiston community. We provide Bates and Lewiston high school students with interesting educational opportunities in the form of speakers, films, tours, demos and, seminars. We serve as a social and educational organization that unites people through the field of chemistry.

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Chicks on Sticks aims to create a space for female-identifying skiers and riders in an outdoors industry that otherwise limits accessibility and inclusivity. Providing a community that advocates and aims to make skiing and other snow-sport activities supportive, fun, and welcoming overall allows more access to the outdoors for the female-identifying community.

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The Circus Club brings the newly flourishing art form of circus to Bates College. We explore different areas of circus, primarily aerials (such as silks and aerial hoop) and juggling, in addition to acrobatics, unicycling, walking on stilts, diabolo, and other skills. Through weekly meetings, we work on strength, flexibility, and technique in a relaxed, low-pressure setting tailored to the interest of club members. Circus Club is open to everyone of all levels of experience (many of our members have no prior circus experience at all), and we are happy to help anyone learn the arts of circus!

Circus Club provides a space for Bates students to practice the circus arts and to build community through the circus arts, and collaborate with each other. Furthermore, Circus Club provides a space for students to discover new skills and interests, in addition to providing a space for students to be able to teach/share their circus interests with other students. Finally, Circus Club seeks to share the Circus Arts with community members in Lewiston-Auburn by participating in community events and running Circus skill-learning workshops.

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Access to our circus equipment!

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The Classics Club’s mission is to foster and explore interests in the Classical and Medieval World in a more relaxed and casual setting. We open ourselves to the Bates and the Lewiston-Auburn communities to discuss our shared interests in the classics.

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Building off of the values of the Bates student body, Bates Club Nordic Skiing aims to provide an accessible and inclusive environment for students to engage in Maine’s outdoors during the winter. Bates Nordic is dedicated to supporting all abilities and experience levels to ensure that anyone who wants to get on skis is able to. This club aims to provide a holistic nordic skiing experience by encouraging competition among those who desire it, a fun learning environment, and a break from busy work schedules.

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At Club Pool, our mission is to foster a dynamic and welcoming community for pool enthusiasts. We are committed to creating an outstanding environment where players of all abilities can enjoy and excel in cue sports. Our club emphasizes respect for the game of pool, promoting both competitive excellence and sportsmanship. We aim to provide superior facilities, quality equipment, and a range of opportunities for learning, competition, and casual play. Our goal is to be a central gathering place where aficionados can share their passion for pool, engage in meaningful exchanges, and contribute to the vibrancy of the local cue sports scene. Home page Link: https://sites.google.com/bates.edu/bobcatspool/home

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[Club Table Tennis] serves as a unifying force for students passionate about table tennis, creating a vibrant community within the constraints of limited on-campus space. Aligned with Campus Life's mission, the club offers a unique platform for students to explore their interest in table tennis, fostering inclusivity and community engagement. Our primary goal is to build a tight-knit community by connecting students with shared interests and providing a welcoming environment for all members, regardless of skill level. Beyond fostering connections, our members will actively contribute to each other's growth through paper practice and by providing training for beginners in sports. This inclusive approach promotes skill development for club members and officers and encourages exploring new interests. Moreover, [Club Table Tennis] extends its positive impact beyond campus borders, aiming to collaborate with after-school programs and other clubs and participate in Bates College events related to table tennis. The club goes beyond a sports organization, embodying a community that thrives on shared passions and mutual support while impacting the campus and the local communities.

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The mission of Bates Club Tennis is to provide all Bates students with an opportunity to hone their tennis skills, and to provide an athletic outlet for all students on campus. Club tennis aims to cater to all - from the first-time player to the experienced tennis veteran. Club Tennis strives to provide the Bates community with a low-stakes tennis association. Bates Club Tennis is also committed to be involved within the Lewiston/Auburn community.

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Bates Democrats are concerned students and citizens who tend to vote for Democrats, and are politically active and aware. With a large focus on local politics, we sponsor speakers, work on campaigns, host forums, meet with politicians, and engage in discussions on hot political topics. Bates Democrats has a close working relationship with the Maine Democratic Party and acts as the official Bates College chapter of the Maine College Democrats- a College Democrats of America affiliate.

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Bates College Republicans, a chapter of the Maine College Republicans and the College Republican National Committee (CRNC), is a political organization that promotes conservative values on the Bates campus and helps elect Republican candidates at the local, state and national levels of government. Club members host prominent speakers, engage in grassroots activism on behalf of Republican candidates, sponsor school-wide debates, and generally heighten political awareness at Bates. The club has a strong belief in the benefits of a strong two-party government and recognizes that every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.

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Consulting Club intends to be a resource hub and safe place for people interested in consulting and problem- solving. Through mock case interviews, panel discussions, lectures, and case competitions, we help members get to know about consulting and prepare the necessary skills to succeed. Here, we not only provide you with our exclusive resources, but also have like-minded people to understand you and support you along the way.

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The Bates College Crosstones, established in 1996, are Bates' oldest co-ed a cappella group. They are best known for their close-knit nature, high energy, sense of humor, and powerful sound. The Crosstones perform both locally and internationally, and their repertoire is expansive, ranging from contemporary pop to classic rock. Previous tours have taken them up and down New England, over to the West Coast, and all the way up to Canada. The Crosstones have a number of musical accomplishments, including features on the 2012 Best of College A Cappella CD and the TV show "Sing That Thing!" Their third and most recent album, entitled "Between What We Share," released in December of 2019 and can be found on all major music distribution sites! The Crosstones strive for musical excellence and have a blast doing so! Auditions are held every fall, so be on the lookout for announcements. The ones are always eager to add new faces to their family in order to create unforgettable music and memories.

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Bates Club Cycling is for all who wish to stay engaged in biking during the year! We plan a ride at least once a week (during the warmer months), but also serve as a platform for shared love of biking: whenever a member wants to ride, they are encouraged to reach out and get an impromptu group together. We also collaborate with community groups, engaging with the Lewiston population outside of Bates. There’s no experience necessary — come with a bike and helmet and explore the beautiful state of Maine with us!

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Deansmen are a 12-14 voice, all-male a cappella group that has been entertaining the college community and beyond since 1957. Our repertoire is nothing short of dynamic, ranging from the traditional to the new. In our signature tuxedos, we happily sing at local charity events, as well as at other colleges and high schools. In the past, the Deansmen have performed for the Boston Celtics, George Bush, Sr., and Rockapella as well as on both Maine and Icelandic television. The group is known for maintaining a high musical quality while also delivering a powerful, entertaining, and occasionally hilarious performance. Auditions for the Deansmen are held during the first week of the Fall Semester and sometimes Winter at the group's discretion. We hope to see you there!

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The Bates College Disc Golf club's mission is to promote the play and appreciation of the sport of Disc Golf. We want to encourage the idea that our club welcomes and embraces all at different skill levels interested in disc golf.

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The Discordians are a chem-free, community-oriented gaming and gathering club. We host everything from Magic: the Gathering tournaments to snow decorating competitions to the campus-wide Humans vs. Zombies game in the spring.
Do you want to learn to play Dungeons & Dragons or Settlers of Catan? Watch movies or anime or Twitch with some ice cream and waffles? Play any of the board games in our extensive closet? Or just find some lunch buddies? Come to one of our awesome events!
We are committed to offering chem-free activities open to all students. We're always excited to welcome new members!

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The Bates DJ Club’s reason for being is to provide a community and space in which people can appreciate and learn more about all types of music. Our club plans to both educate people about the technical aspects of music creation and performance and offer an opportunity for all people at Bates to enjoy new and varied types of music. The club is dedicated to including people of all backgrounds and identities and wants to promote cultural exchange and awareness through the mode of music. Additionally, the club exists to give those who have an interest in DJing an affordable and comfortable starting point, since DJ equipment and guidance are quite expensive and would be cost-prohibitive for people to begin on their own. By creating a club and community around DJing and music production, we hope to raise funds to buy equipment that anyone can use free of charge so that people with a love for music are not shut out by economic circumstances. As a part of Bates College, the DJ Club would provide an accessible outlet for students to further explore what they love and excel in the field of music production and performance. At Bates College, students are given a great opportunity to educate themselves in a wide variety of fields, and the DJ Club sees itself as being a part of that varied education for anyone interested. The DJ Club’s focus on exposing students to many different genres of music, and open-ended plans to teach students more about any genres they enjoy, will fit in extremely well with the multicultural and varied student body at Bates.

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Earth to Bates is a club committed to engaging Bates students and the greater community of Lewiston-Auburn in the exploration and discovery of the earth sciences. We provide ways to communicate the importance of the earth sciences through field trips and interactive classroom visits in Lewiston-Auburn. We also provide a system of support and networking for the students within the Bates Earth and Climate Sciences Department in order to learn about undergraduate research opportunities, graduate school, and job opportunities. Earth to Bates seeks to integrate the geosciences into the broader liberal arts tradition and strengthen connections to other fields and disciplines. Anyone who doesn't know anything about geology, anyone who is interested in learning more about geology, or anyone who is involved with the Earth and Climate Science Department is welcome!

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Environmental Coalition works to improve environmental awareness and responsibility at Bates and across Maine. We host events, engage in local politics, attend protests and rallies, and work with other organizations in Maine and on-campus. In past years, we have joined the FridaysForFuture movement, helped make Bates carbon neutral, and focused on national youth movements. Currently, we are focused on engaging with other groups on-campus, in Lewiston-Auburn, and in Maine to connect with both the community and provide access to different environments, sustainable resources, and political action. All are welcome regardless of experience or knowledge; if you want to help, we want you with us!

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The purpose of Bates Film Production Club is to increase accessibility to film techniques in an increasing digital world. We would provide Bates students with the opportunity to gain more hands-on film experience outside of class and the freedom to make whatever they want or to explore their creativity.

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This club brings in important guest speakers (directors, editors, cinematographers, etc.) who can tell you what it's like to work in the film industry. We hold Q&A's where you can ask their advice and listen to their experiences getting into the field! We also provide internship guidance, as well as foster networking within our club.

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Filmboard provides showings of films for Bates and the larger community. Films are shown for free! Filmboard's objective is to offer social viewing experiences, including some 21+, Campus Life sponsored events. Additionally, working with other clubs on campus allows for a diverse range of film screenings and discussions after film screenings. Members help select and show films. New faces are always welcome!

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The mission of this club is to organize existing anglers and inspire new anglers to explore Maines many fisheries. We aim to educate new anglers and create connections that will last a lifetime.

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Gospelaires invites Bates students, staff, faculty, and alumni to gather with members of the wider Maine community to sing gospel and worship music together. This club provides a welcoming community where members of all ethnic, racial, religious, and musical backgrounds come together, embracing "the transformative power of our differences" to provide support for one another and create harmony together.

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Being able to be part of a singing group that sings and worships in community once a week and gives performances each semester.

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The overall purpose of Helicase, the Student Biology Club, is to provide support, unity, and inspiration for the exploration of biology both inside and outside of the formal curriculum. We will organize activities and events directly relevant to the study of biology to stimulate interest in biology among the majors and the campus community at large through sponsored lectures, field trips, and lab explorations. Through our meetings and activities we will cultivate an environment of curiosity, support, and excitement surrounding biology, a subject that can often be intimidating.

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Where are you from? And why does it matter? Whether we realize it or not, culture influences everything from our concept of success to how many times a day we brush our teeth. The International Club is a student organization that aims to create welcoming spaces for people from all parts of the world and celebrate diverse cultures. We host a variety of different activities ranging from informal gatherings where students can come together to play games or watch movies, to trips in the US, talent shows, the annual International Dinner and more. The club aims to create a space where we can openly talk about cultural differences and share our unique traditions. [Fun fact: We are the largest club on campus with over 500 members ranging from Costa Rica to Albania to Pakistan.] All students from around the world are welcome. Come join the party! Sign up!

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The Bates College Investment Club manages a real $125,000 portfolio on behalf of the college, in support of student financial aid. Our members learn about asset management, markets, stocks and bonds, as well as financial modeling.

Weekly meetings are held to teach the basic investment analysis, learn about the financial markets and vote on specific investment proposals. No prior knowledge or investment experience is required, and students from all majors are welcome. Joining the club is highly recommended for those who may be considering finance as a possible career as well as those who want to learn about managing their own money.

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The purpose of this club is for students to learn how to make Jewelry and meet new people. This club enriches the Bates and Lewiston-Auburn Communities by bringing together students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds and encourages each other to create art through jewelry. This club relates to and furthers the Bates College mission and the Campus Life mission by being open to all Bates students, no matter skill level or background. This club is an opportunity to become involved in the student experience while also taking part in equity and inclusion work.

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The Jewish Student Union is the entirely student run club on campus for Jewish life. We seek to create a tight knit community that meets weekly for casual shabbat dinners. We celebrate all major Jewish holidays and participate in programs with the local synagogue, Temple Shalom, in Auburn. All members of the Bates community are welcome and encouraged to attend JSU events and programs. Check out our Instagram!

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Being part of a Jewish Community on Bates College Campus via Shabbat, holidays, events.

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The Knit Wits is Bates’ only club dedicated to fiber arts. While the main focus of the group is knitting, we also welcome those who love to crochet or craft of any kind. We hold events, yarn-bomb, and have weekly meetings where we get together to knit, talk, and have fun together. We usually meet in the Fireplace Lounge, where we can sit by the fire and get comfortable in the cozy chairs while knitting. The Knit Wits club is home to fun people who come together for the love of crafting. We encourage all those want to learn how to knit or crochet, as well as those who are already experts, to join us!

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Our mission is to support Bates students who are interested in going to law school, practicing law, and/or legal affairs in general by hosting seminars, providing advice and tutoring, as well as giving members opportunities to develop their public speaking and legal argumentation skills.

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What do you get when you put a bunch of guys who love to sing alone with a piano? You'll have to see for yourself to find out, but we're pretty sure you'll be manically optimistic about it! The Manic Optimists are one of Bates' all-male-identifying a cappella groups, performing a wide variety of current hits and classic favorites. We perform constantly throughout the year, at Bates, at other schools, and anywhere else they'll have us, from the Boston Common to Sugarloaf ski resort and beyond! So what do you say? Do you have what it takes to be a ManOp?

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Our club is a place for people to meditate.

There are many reasons to meditate–whether they be related to well-being, spiritual practice, or otherwise–but the club is accommodating of meditators from all backgrounds.

We especially welcome beginner meditators at any meeting. If you are new to meditating, feel free to look at the following links to explore:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/01/eight-weeks-to-a-better-brain/
https://www.headspace.com/meditation-101/what-is-meditation

If you want to try meditation by yourself first, Bates students currently have free access to Headspace.com premium accounts. This website/app is a great way to try the practice.

Hope to see you soon! ├░┼©ÔäóÔÇÜ

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The Merimanders were established in 1958 as the first and (currently) only a cappella group of women and femme-aligned nonbinary individuals. We provide an inclusive, femme-identifying space to connect through music and sing together. We perform at various Bates events throughout the year as well in the Lewiston-Auburn and greater Maine community. The Merimanders, additionally, organizes joint concerts with other a cappella groups both on campus and off. Auditions are held at the beginning of each academic year.

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Are you interested in debate? Do you have a passion for international issues? Have you ever thought about pursuing a career in international relations and diplomacy? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please consider joining Bates Model UN. What is Model UN? Model United Nations (also Model UN or MUN) is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems. If you were part of a Model UN club in high school, great! If not, no problem. No prior Model UN experience is necessary and all are welcome! In recent years, our club has had great success participating in conferences at Harvard, Brown, and McGill University, and we would like to keep that success going with some fresh new faces!

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Members of Bates Model UN will be presented the opportunity to build on their previous Model UN skills or start their MUN journey through both practice simulations hosted at regular meetings and conferences we attend at other schools. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to give back through the conference we host for Lyman Moore Middle School.

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The MSA is an association of students seeking a spiritual, social, and cultural community that strengthens bonds among members & allies. The club aims at providing appropriate spaces for religious observances and increasing awareness of the Islamic faith on the college campus through celebrations, discussions, and other diverse events. We network with both the Lewiston muslim community and other muslim student associations in the NESCAC.

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OutFront endeavors to promote understanding, education, awareness, and activism on campus regarding gender, romantic, and sexual diversity, providing queer students with a sense of community on campus, combating homophobia and transphobia, and helping to create conscious community members. This is achieved through weekly discussions, collaborations with campus and community resources such as SPARQ! and campus-wide events such as Coming Out Week, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Pride Week, and the large-scale event Lick-It

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OutFront members will be incorporated into a diverse and accepting community of queer students at Bates who share similar values and goals. OutFront provides support for queer students who are seeking a sense of community on campus, or those students who may be invested in anti-homophobic and anti-transphobic activism efforts.

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The Bates Public Health Initiative provides students with an opportunity to engage in public health outreach both on the Bates campus and in the community. Students will experience the social, economic, cultural, and political aspects of public health through designing and implementing health education and outreach programs.

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Raices Unidas is a student organization that celebrates diversity. The club offers the opportunity to Bates Students who identify as Hispanic or Latino to come together and learn more about their rich culture, however, the club’s main goal is to facilitate a welcoming place for the entire Bates community, whether Latino or not, to embrace and discover more about Latin American culture, a culture that many here at Bates are part of. We do not only seek to connect (or reconnect) members of the Bates community with the richness of countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, but also hope to explore the relationship that Latin American countries have with the United States, at a national and Bates level. We achieve these goals through discussions, community engagement, dances, academic conferences, Enlaces (Want to know what it is? Yes? Then join our club!), and food! To guarantee an inclusive environment for non-Spanish speaking members, all meetings are held in English.

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Members of this club will be able to gain knowledge about Latin American culture and build connections with people of different countries. They will be able to express their love and connection to being Latinxs, Hispanic, or to further their wants of learning about a different culture.

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The mission of The Robinson Players is to encourage, produce, and promote student theater independent of the Department of Theater and Dance, as well as to enhance the community through exposure to the theater arts.

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Run Club is designed to be a setting that fosters non competitive group runs/jogs/walks. Many people at Bates are interested in running for fun, exercise, and meeting new people. Run Club is a platform for Bates community members to do all those things! Bates has competitive teams like cross country and track which feature running, but the Run Club will not focus on races, competitions or times. Instead, Run Club will support its members in reaching their own individual goals. We invite folks of all paces to attend- feel free to run, walk, or jog with the group or use our routes on your own! There are two group runs a week; one short run (between 2-3 miles) and one long run (between 4-8 miles). All runs will be held rain or shine. At each run, there are runners for all paces and runners of all paces are encouraged to attend. Additionally, Rub Club will host group events for the Bates and Lewiston Community. These may include races or group destination runs.

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• Members should have fun
• Introduce inexperienced runners to the activity
• Create a social space to experience the outdoors
• Members get to participate in a healthy and supportive physical activity
• A good community space
• A non-competitive space for runners to continue running if they do not want to compete at a varsity level, etc…
• Learning new places and familiarizing themselves with the Lewiston/Auburn area

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Shred Club seeks to promote, expand and support the shredding community on Bates Campus and within the greater Lewiston-Auburn community. Shred club is a hub for all things SHRED (skating, surfing, mountain biking, and freestyle skiing). A great way to explore the many rip-able and grind-able corners of Maine, hidden surf spots and urban ski rails, Shred Club is the only club worth your time. All forms of shredding are welcome and encouraged. Join shred club to put together trips and a community around the culture of Shred.

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The Small Ensembles Club aims to provide a space for classical musicians, specifically those who are not offered curricular small ensemble opportunities (strings, pianists, and woodwinds), to recreationally perform in chamber groups. The club creates a low-pressure environment for classical musicians to make friends and have autonomy over their musical decisions. Club performances and events aim to reach both the wider Bates and Lewiston-Auburn communities.

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Snaggletooth is Bates' only literary and arts magazine. Through our published issues, workshops, and open mics, we provide a place for artists to share their work with the Bates and Lewiston-Auburn communities. We are also committed to facilitating the creative growth and development of Bates artists. We welcome everyone to get involved and submit creative writing and visual art, regardless of experience!

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The South Asian Student Association (formerly Desi) is a union for students of South Asian descent that will also offer educational and festive opportunities for the community, such as religious celebrations like Diwali and Holi, Bollywood movie screenings, and other cultural events. Derived from the Sanskrit de├àÔÇ║a (├á┬ñ┬ª├á┬ÑÔÇí├á┬ñ┬Â), meaning “land” or “country,” Desi is a modern term used to describe the peoples and cultures of the Indian subcontinent. The goal of this club is to allow Desi students to celebrate their cultural identity, share their struggles, and bring awareness to the traditions of a region that makes up more than ├ó…• of the world’s population, but whose culture is largely underrepresented on this campus. The colorful and flavorful culture of South Asia has touched almost all parts of the world, and it will now do the same at Bates!

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The Southeast Asian Society (SEAS) at Bates College is a cultural, social, and civically engaged organization. We strive to make an impact on our campus and city community by learning, educating, and taking action. SEAS seeks to create a community with the growing Southeast Asian population in Lewiston/Auburn. Additionally, we seek to create a space for Asian students who have ties to Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. By bringing together Southeast Asian students and affiliates, it is an opportunity for students to create intellectual discourse and build community together. SEAS encourages a sense of community in the Southeast Asian and Southeast Asian American population at Bates.

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We, the members of Students Demand Action at Bates College, to organize and act to combat gun violence and advocate for sensible gun laws, do hereby establish this constitution. Through political engagement such as lobby days, letter writing, and public advocacy initiatives, our mission is to end gun violence in the state of Maine and around the country and to secure a safer future for all.

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Students for Justice in Palestine, SJP, is a national movement based in the USA that strives to empower, unify, and support student organisers who advocate for Palestinian peoples’ liberation and right to self-determination on university campuses. At Bates, SJP’s mission would be to educate students on campus about the history of Palestine, Palestinian culture, food, music and folklore and to advocate for issues of freedom, justice and equality from the Middle East to Maine.

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The Sunshine Society is a club dedicated to spreading positivity and kindness around campus, plus as much as we can in the broader community! We have chalked up the Library Quad with motivational messages, hosted tables in Commons where students can make goodie bags during finals week, and passed out Love Cards.

Sunshine Society is a low-commitment type of club, so if you able to make two or twenty meetings we are happy to have you aboard! Getting added to our email list is completely non-binding, you will just receive our emails with updates and meeting notifications. Come help us bring a glow to campus!

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TakeNote is an all-gender a cappella group founded in 2008. Our repertoire consists of an eclectic blend of classics and current hits, from genres such as pop, folk, and rock. We perform at concerts on campus as well as within the community. We have also toured around New England and up to Montreal and Quebec City. Intrigued? Come audition! We are always looking for new members to join in on the fun.

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The Tea Club strives to educate, inform, and bring awareness to the Bates Community about the rich historical, cultural, and societal aspects of tea. This club provides a place to drink tea among peers and tea-enthusiasts alike and partake in discussions about the literature and history of this global beverage. In addition, our indoor herb garden provides a space of tranquility for students to engage with the natural world and understand the process of creating and cultivating this complex and beautiful beverage.

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Members of Tea Club benefit from tasting a variety of teas, discussing tea with their peers, and learning about the complexity and history of the specific teas at club meetings. In addition, club members can partake in Tea Club-sponsored events. Club members are also able to visit and help to maintain our indoor herbal tea garden.

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Our mission is to foster a home for engaging and positive conversations on the most pressing topics facing our world today.

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WRBC is Batess own fully licensed radio station broadcasting since 1958 at 91.5 FM. Frequently ranked on the Princeton Reviews list of Best College Radio Stations, WRBC features live radio programming of all genres and styles 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, by students, faculty, and community DJs. We also host concerts and events on campus throughout the school year, including our famed Trivia Night. Recent musicians we have hosted include Dr. Dog, Cold War Kids, Matt & Kim, Yeasayer, The Lighthouse and the Whaler, and Moon Hooch.

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Bates Yoga Kula is a student run organization that provides participants the opportunity to practice a variety of styles of yoga and meditation, aiming to teach skills in both mindfulness and healthy living.

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