Sporcle, trivia games, trips to the Big Apple and face-to-face discussions with prominent History Channel figures; it can't be, but it is - Geneseo History Club.
Despite the mundane repertoire the subject of history generally receives, this club is the unexpected spice of life in Sturges Hall.
Several weeks ago, History Club joined forces with a group of international relations majors and 40 students traversed to New York City for a jovial day brimming with educational fun. "It was fantastic - we saw the United Nations and the History Channel," club secretary and sophomore Mike Terreri said. "We set it up so the afternoon was unstructured so students could go around and explore the city on their own."
Trip-goers were also bestowed with the opportunity to have a question-and-answer session with Kimberly Gilmore of the History Channel. Gilmore, who specializes in public history, presented eager ears with ideas for future jobs that extend beyond academia.
"I think the History Channel is very interesting because Dr. Gilmore works in the educational outreach division of History Channel, so she works a lot with putting together programs that tie into actual functioning society," senior Katie Deierlien said. "It's really cool because I think everyone wants to see those two things come together. That's why we study history."
History Club is planning a trip to Rochester Museum and Science Center this semester. The trip will be of interest to students who enjoy burrowing through public history. Both the collections department and the registrar of the museum will be available to look through.
"It's actually applicable to a lot of different majors," Deierlien said. "We are trying to partner with anthropology majors. People who are interested in library sciences and technology services would also be interested in it."
Due to the lack of guidance graduating seniors receive to make their trek into their future, History Club has decided to put together a graduate school internship application panel presentation, which will also be occurring sometime in the near future.
As if they didn't do enough already, members of History Club also volunteer their time and energy to local area schools by tutoring history.
According to Terreri, the club recently started a credit-bearing collections internship program that's offered in the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum, in the valley of Geneseo. The club is looking to expand the internship to grasp the attention of other majors, like art.
If none of the aforementioned activities interest the average knowledge-seeking history major, History Club is just a good ole' support group for the major.
"It's a really good excuse to get together with other people who understand what it's like to be a history major," Deierlien said. "It's a nice community feel."
According to Amy Breimaier, senior and president of History Club, peer advisement is also offered as well.
"As a freshman, my experience was that History Club was a good place to de-stress and vent about professors, classes and history in general," Terreri said. Breimaier added that people understand what you're going through because you have the same interests, so it's not like you're completely crazy. "You can be like, 'I have this huge paper to write,' and they understand," Breimaier said.
Terreri advises any history student who wants to look especially fresh and trendy to purchase a T-shirt, as sales will begin soon.
All are welcome to attend History Club meetings, which are every Thursday at 6 p.m. in Sturges 109.