There will likely be a new athletic club coming to Ramapo College for the fall 2013 semester. Ramapo freshman Chris Volk hopes to make the Ramapo Archery Club official this semester and begin physical activity in the fall.
The club is still looking for new members as it finishes completing the necessary paperwork and meetings with college administration.
"Everyone can join, and no experience is necessary," said Volk. "You don't have to be athletic. It just takes focus."
So far, Volk has a list of 16 people interested in joining the new archery club. For a club to be recognized by the school, it must have at least 14 official members, including members of the club's e-board.
Initially, the club will not compete against other colleges and is simply recreational. However, over time Volk wants the club to compete in United States Collegiate Archery Association.
Volk has eight years of experience with archery and said he started in Boy Scouts and then continued by going to ranges with his own bow. He said that the focus required for archery helped him clear his mind when he was stressed out from a heavy college workload.
"I found it very relaxing," he said.
Volk encourages anyone who is feeling stressed out by school to come out and give archery a try.
The club plans to get its members archery bows and equipment from the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP). The program "promotes international-style target archery as part of the in-school curriculum," according to its website, nasparchery.com.
Volk said that an average archery bow costs around $120, but the NASP would allow him to buy bows in bulk at a discounted rate for the club.
"We can get a pretty good deal," he said.
Volk said that one unresolved issue for the club is getting permission to use the College's athletic fields. There is always a safety concern when shooting archery. Bows and arrows can be dangerous, especially if any people or animals wander onto the shooting range.
Volk will have to convince the College administration otherwise and figure out what the club will do as far as handling insurance for its players.
However, Volk said that so far the College's athletic department has been very helpful. He said Center for Student Involvement Director Rick Brown has aided the club in its efforts to obtain permission to use the athletic fields. Todd Lizzo, the director of intramurals, will serve as the club's advisor and has been very supportive of getting the club started, according to Volk.
Ramapo College sophomore Greg Mascola said that he can appreciate an archery club on campus because of his past experiences as an Eagle Scout.
"It's somewhat of a dying art, so I think it's cool that it could be coming to Ramapo," Mascola said.
mmontal1@ramapo.edu
