As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted our academics, workplace, home life, and much more. However, it also greatly impacted many extracurricular activities that WOU offers. One of these extracurricular activities is the ASL Club. When the pandemic struck, all ASL Club meetings and other events were either canceled or moved to Zoom. During the fall of the 2021 school year, the ASL Club held a few in-person events, but many students were not yet comfortable with attending these events due to the pandemic. However, as COVID-19 continued to slow, students became hungry to sign ASL in person, mentioned Professor Kara Gournaris, ASL Club Advisor. Therefore, during Spring Term 2022, the ASL Club decided to host more events with the Monmouth Deaf Community. The ASL Club held three large events with the Monmouth Deaf Community. At the events, students and community members got together to play games, socialize, and even perform plays sometimes. 

In the Spring of 2022, the ASL Club also resurrected the talent show. The talent show was held in May of 2022 and was a friendly competition between students in the ASL Club. Members of the Monmouth Deaf Community were also invited to the talent show. Gournaris said that many people enjoyed the show. After the exciting and entertaining talent show in May, ASL Club decided to do the talent show again during the 2022-2023 school year. 

This school year, the ASL Club is in full swing. So far this year, the club has already held a back-to-school ASL mixer. Many more upcoming, in-person events are listed below:

• Meetings every week as a club with various activities – fall term is alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7pm in RWEC (example: game night, eating out at restaurants, etc)
• Deaf Community night once a term (Oct. 27th, 6pm-8pm in WUC Columbia room for fall term)
• Guest speakers (i.e. DeafBlind, LGBTQ+, interpreters, deaf students, Black Deaf culture, etc)
• Various participation in events put on by WOU/ASWOU

The ASL Club encourages you to come to as many events as you can! Stay on the lookout for information about upcoming events posted in the RWEC and the WUC.