The French Club aims to offer an educational experience that SFCC students might not receive anywhere else on campus. On Feb. 13, the French Club held an event called “St. Valentine Day Celebration” to honor the holiday’s history and culture.
The French Club makes it their duty to supply SFCC with the utmost French experience and helps students understand the French culture with the events they hold.
“We love to discuss French events and culture,” Club President Shipharah Zurbuchen said. “We have had discussions regarding Voltaire, the French philosopher, the American perception of France, (have) enjoyed French cuisine, held events surrounding Paris Fashion Week ‘Haute Couture,’ played French language board-games (with the aid of francophone), and also held the St. Valentine’s Day activity.”
The club was formed about five years ago. This year, it had a rocky start as membership was down, but now it is blooming with opportunity.
“I have been the club president for just two quarters,” Zurbuchen said. “I hope to remain president but will step aside if someone else really wants that leadership opportunity.”
The club has 15 members.
“As the president of the French Club organization, I try my best to enrich every club assembly with the traditions and customs of the francophone world,” Zurbuchen said. “This could never happen without the support and inquiry from my fellow club affiliates who are James Perley (vice president), Cruz Sanchez (secretary), and Eddy Cuisinier (club adviser).”
“Our adviser, Mr. Cuisinier is from Paris, France,” Zurbuchen said. “He offers a genuine perspective of French culture. He helps make the best decisions for our organization’s image.”
Students do not need to speak French in order to become club members. They only need to be interested in learning about French culture and traditions.
“France is a country associated with romance and its developed traditions of St. Valentine’s Day is worth honoring,” Zurbuchen said. “The little village of St. Valentin in Indre, the central Val de Loire region, has declared itself the ‘Village of Love.’ Every February a festival is held in the village, celebrating St. Valentine for three days. During the St. Valentin Festival, the whole place is decked out with flowers (red roses being the favorite) and the Garden is open for business. It is said that if you pin your love notes on the Tree of Vows then your love will be forever blessed.”
Michelle Key joined the French Club after attending the Club Fair held in January.
“This is the first club I have ever joined,” Key said. “I try to be an active member and support everyone however they may need me. It’s my first club so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but it’s small so you get to be a part of it quickly. It’s not overwhelming. It’s not the type of club you would be intimidated by.”
“It gives us the opportunity to talk about what it would be like to be a citizen in another country and gain cultural understanding beyond French class. It helps us develop a respect for other cultures, to immerse yourself and be aware that there are other existences beyond the American culture.”
French Club can act as a gateway to bigger things.
“I plan to minor in French as a language,” Key said. “My major is zoology and I expect to travel to a lot of French speaking countries. Ideally, I’d like to teach English as a second language while I’m abroad. I’m hoping that my education can give me that opportunity to travel abroad and connect with people.”
James Perley joined during the fall Welcome Week. He serves as vice president and helps to facilitate and plan events alongside Zurbchen.
“We have a blast together,” Perley said. “We went to see a French film that the Spokane International Film Festival hosted called ‘Promise at Dawn.’ It is just a phenomenal movie. I was truly blown away. I highly recommend it.”
“We try to do a lot of events, and not just on campus,” Perley added. “We like going downtown, too. I’ll be attending Gonzaga in the fall. I do plan on continuing to study the French language, but I won’t be able to be part of the club.”
The French Club welcomes Running Start students, as well.
“I’ve been a member of the French Club for just over a month,” said high school junior and Running Start student Macy Allen. “It’s educational, but not so educational that it’s like a second class.”
French is known as a romance language.
“I’m in French 122 this quarter,” club member Kiele Rogalski said. “This is my second quarter taking French and I attend French Club every Wednesday. I joined this club because I really like languages. I enjoy listening to them, even if I don’t know what the people are saying.”
Romance languages are the Indo-European languages descending from Latin, such as French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
“When you are learning the French language, it’s nice to immerse yourself into the language and traditions of the French,” Rogalski said. “Our club is very interactive. Our president is a lot of fun. Our adviser is a great professor and since he is a Parisian he provides a great learning environment.”
More information
The French Club meets 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in Room 103
of the Performing Arts Building.