Spanish professor Dr. Ian Russell is bringing back the Spanish Club at JSU. Russell explained this revival with his desire to create a space where interested students and Spanish learners, teachers, and speakers can come together to build a community outside of the classroom.

The student-run club is in its beginning stages and invites anyone interested to attend a meeting to pitch in some ideas. Currently, the members of the club are coming up with fun events that can show JSU how bringing together and learning about different cultures can be an exciting experience. Russell hopes to have a large event—in which the entire JSU community can participate (virtually)—organized by the end of the Spring 2021 semester.

According to Russell, “People should join the Spanish Club no matter what level of language they have—whether they only know a few words or come from a Spanish-speaking background. They should join if they have any interest in Spanish-language cultures (including film, literature, music, etc.), any interest in how Spanish relates to our everyday lives (whether it’s as simple as food or as complicated as international relations), or any interest in participating in service and creating more opportunities for JSU students to get involved with Spanish-speaking communities across Alabama. This is just the beginning of the club, so I encourage anyone to join and bring their ideas with them: the possible activities are really endless!”

Russell hopes that in one year, the Spanish Club will be a strong organization full of passionate students arranging “cultural activities like film screenings or trips to restaurants/museums and service to the community.”

Russell says that those interested in joining the Spanish Club can reach him at irussell@jsu.edu .

The club’s next meeting will be Wednesday, January 27^th at 5 p.m. in Room 327 in the Stone Center. “We are going to discuss plans for the semester, and anyone is welcome to stop by (wearing a mask and keeping six feet of course).”