Club Corner: Buddies

BY BECCA SANDAGER
Copy Editor

There are a multitude of things besides sports practices and athletic events that go on in the Saint Mary’s University’s Gostomski Field House’s Recreation and Athletic Center (RAC) Thursday nights as part of the Buddies club.

Buddies is a club that gives community members who are developmentally disabled in some way or another the opportunity to come to SMU and hang out. Club members can participate in a variety of activities with their Buddies such as coloring, playing catch, basketball or even just talking.

“It gives you a chance to interact with a segment of society that is many times forgotten,” said Nicole Clammer, copresident of Buddies. “You meet a lot of new people and make many friends at Buddies.”

Buddies also puts on various parties during the holiday times such as their Halloween costume party, Christmas, Easter and end of the year parties. Currently, there are between 20 and 30 members who are actively involved with Buddies. Buddies meets in the RAC every Thursday night from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Anyone interested in getting regularly involved with Buddies is required to attend Safe Environment training provided by the Diocese of Winona and undergo a biannual background check. For more information, contact Clammer at nlclam07 or Alyssa Fanella at amfane07.