Clubs Keep Campus Lively during Summer
Swordfish Underwater Hockey, the club underwater hockey team at Georgia Tech, practices year-round. Photo by Adam Lau.
The campus vibe is calmer during summer, but still, plenty of students live, work and play at Georgia Tech 12 months a year.
In addition to students who have stayed around, a new batch of summer freshmen arrived on campus last week. And whether you are new or old to Tech, there’s plenty to do on campus all summer long. Many student groups are active, and all welcome new members. In most cases, students do not need any particular experience to participate.
Underwater Hockey
If you pine for hockey during the summer, underwater hockey is the answer to your wish. The Swordfish Underwater Hockey Club, which has been featured by CNN, plays a hydrated version of hockey that involves pushing a weighted puck into an opponent’s goal — underwater. There’s no goalie and no checking, and players need only come equipped with a swimsuit and basic swimming ability. The team competes year-round, practicing at either the Campus Recreation Center or the nearby Washington Park Natatorium.
Rugby Club
Georgia Tech’s Rugby Football Club (GTRFC) practices and keeps things social throughout the summer. This summer the team is practicing with another local men’s rugby club and will complete in multiple tournaments.
“There’s usually a good group of guys around that like to have fun and not take things too seriously,” said teammate Patrick Fingles. Practices take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., and previous rugby experience is not required.
Learn more: Contact Randy Blair
Gamer’s Guild
If you love games but prefer the indoors, the Gamer’s Guild will give you a way to pass the time in air-conditioned comfort. This student-run club plays board games, tabletop role-playing games and card games (excluding Magic the Gathering) and meets every Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in rooms on the third floor of the Student Center. The Guild owns more than 500 board games and expansion packs and will even host board games at other organizations’ events for free.
Learn more on Jacketpages and Facebook.
eSports @ GT
This group is an umbrella organization for Tech’s many video gaming clubs and hosts gaming events for all of campus. eSports hosts Gamefest during the spring and fall and coordinates groups from Tech attending other local gaming events during the summer. The organization is housed in the College of Computing but welcomes students of all majors.
Some of the clubs under eSports that are active this summer include GT Minecraft, GT Pokemon League, and GT Starcraft Club.
Makers Club
The Makers Club, the student organization that manages the Invention Studio, continues operation year-round, including its management of the studio space. The studio is Tech’s home for anything handmade. Students who are new to the Invention Studio will get demonstrations and instruction from Undergraduate Lab Instructors who are trained on the machinery. The equipment is free to use, and hours are usually Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.