(Credit-Photo by: Bryce Journy/The Valley Forge)
Have you ever walked into the student lounge and wondered why so many students are there? Well, chances are high that you stumbled across one of the E-Sports Club’s weekly meetings.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., in the student lounge located in the student center, you can find students playing various games on different consoles.
The club has access to multiple Nintendo Switches, Xboxes, Virtual Reality Headsets, and even a PlayStation 5.
The club is always looking to improve and attract new members. Jade Beard, the club’s president, and Julien Gomez, the club’s vice president, said the club welcomes anybody.
“We try to make an open, friendly environment,” Beard said. “We are very accepting.”
“We are always open to anybody and everybody,” Gomez added.
The club is young; only being around for three years.
The club’s beginning was very spontaneous, and Jordon McGee, one of the club’s faculty advisors, explained how it was the idea of former RVC president Dr. Douglas Jensen.
“He [Dr. Jensen] just came in one day and was like, ‘Do you think there would be interest in an Esports Club?’ I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he said, ‘Start it,’” Mcgee said with a laugh.
The club initially started off relatively small.
“Last semester, we had a total of like 12-13 people,” Beard said.
However, at typical club meetings, there were rarely more than six people present.
Recently, the club has grown significantly over the semester. Beard credits the club’s growth to an emphasis on advertising and the rest of the members’ focus on improvement.
“From going to 3-6 people a meeting, we had like 15-20 people at our last meeting who are all now interested in helping us make this club a lot bigger,” Beard said.
Right now, Super Smash Brothers, Gang Beasts and virtual reality headsets are popular within the club; however, the club is looking to bring in PCs, more Nintendo Switches and focus on more games like Valorant, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege.
If you enjoy video games or simply need a spot to hang out, the club always offers a safe space to study and take a break.
“We want people to have fun,” Gomez said. “Even if you are not really technically a gamer by any means, it’s still chill that no one is going to get angry at you for not doing well or not playing well, you’re new. You have never really played these kinds of games before, and that’s okay.”
“We just want people to feel accepted for who they are,” Beard said
If interested in joining the club, or if you want more information:
Email the club at: RVC-ESports@rockvalleycollege.edu or email Jordon McGee at: j.mcgee@rockvalleycollege.edu.
