The Student Relationship Union is a new club on campus founded in the fall semester by senior psychology major Aftab Hafeez.

“I wanted to form a club that would help people develop social interactions,” Hafeez said.

The club is focused on relationships, with the mission to empower its members and help them achieve successful relationships-whether it be social, romantic or familial. The Student Relationship Union meetings are held in open-forum style, allowing the members to speak openly and freely, Hafeez said.

“It’s very creative. It’s not something that generally college campuses deal with. I think it’s a really great way to meet other people, to interact and to learn different types of communication to maintain healthy relationships,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, club vice president.

An activity that club members participate in is called “share your view.” Participants write a

relationship-related experience on a slip of paper, after the papers are collected, one of the club

officers reads it and the group members have a chance to discuss the particular topic.

“It is moving to me to watch students in the meetings connect with each other in person, put away their cell phones &- and stop texting or hanging out on Facebook to focus on really listening to each other and talking about what matters in their lives,” said club faculty adviser Elaine Gale, professor of communication studies.

For the semester, the Student Relationship Union is planning various events and fundraisers including selling candy during the first few weeks of school and at the Vagina Monologues performance. For Valentine’s Day, Rodriguez said members will be selling candy grams.

They have had guest speakers at their meetings in the past and plan to have more in the upcoming meetings, including a hypnotherapist.

But the club is not just about helping members improve their own skills. It stresses helping people

communicate with others as well.

“If it’s going the way it should be, it helps people help people to help people,” Hafeez said.

Gale has been one of their guest speakers in the past. And as a communication studies professor, she strongly supports the Student Relationship Union’s mission.

“There was no way that I was going to turn down the opportunity to be the faculty sponsor for a club on campus that recognizes the importance of our human relationships and that is committed to helping students improve the relationships in their lives,” Gale said. “I’ve been a guest speaker at two of the Student Relationship Union meetings to talk about romantic relationships and some theories of self-disclosure.”

Hafeez believes this club is especially significant for college students.

“Everyone deals with relationships, especially college students. It’s a time of transitions, it’s a time of taking your own future into your own hands, and that’s the most important time to make a connection,and network – and that means you’ve got to be pretty confident with social interacting,” Hafeez said.

CORRECTION: The print edition of The State Hornet listed the incorrect time for when the club meets. The Student Relationship Union meets every Monday from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in Brighton Hall, room 104.

Cayla Gales can be reached at [email protected].