A new club might be started soon by Mr. Troy Alldaffer, the University Academy Upper School and Middle School art teacher. The potential new group, the Be You Club, would be somewhat of a reboot of the former Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club, which existed previously in the Upper School. It was a club started by former Upper School art teacher Ms. Kathleen Hammond.
Similar to the GSA Club, the Be You Club would aim to offer a safe and comfortable space for students to socialize, but Mr. A has also added his own twist.
“Aside from gender and sexuality issues, it’s also open to people who are struggling with issues in their life and afraid to talk about it,” Mr. A said.
The Be You Club could be a great option for people trying to find a place where they can notice others going through similar experiences so they know they aren’t alone.
Haley Hughes, a junior interested in the Be You Club, said she’s intrigued by club’s ability to help her build a community with the LGBTQ+ community.
She said she hopes the club could help her “to learn more about people’s experiences and how they figured out what they like.”
The Be You Club would help bring similar students together and let them hear each other’s stories and experiences. It could be a safe space for students to ask questions and learn about each other. For this reason, the Be You Club could also be an opportunity for other students to gain new friends and learn things about others around them who they maybe never knew before.
One reason Mr. A is hoping to reboot the GSA Club and turn it into the Be You Club is because of his own personal experiences in high school and college.
He said, “I want to be a mentor to others who might be struggling with ‘secrets’ or anything they’re hiding and would want to share.”
This club can help students find a trusted adult or a mentor who might understand what they’re going through. But that is not the only perk of the Be You Club. It would be different from other clubs because what students do in this club will be determined by membership.
Mr. A said, “It would be like a democracy, and people would decide for themselves what they would want to do.”
This may appeal to students who would like to join a club based on what its members are interested in and what their hobbies are.
Mr. A said, “Anyone who would like to add ideas or want to be included can join.”
He said he wants it to be “a safe space without any judgment allowed.”
If any students are interested in the Be You Club and want to voice any ideas for the club, talk to Mr. A.
