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Arts & Culture

Asian American Students in Action (AASiA)

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Asian American Students in Action (AASiA) is a political student organization independent of existing Asian cultural organizations at Williams College and was created to foster and execute political action among Asian and Asian American students. This organization implements a structure in which Asian and Asian American students form project-based committees (PBC) for community building and political change. AASiA seeks to build a politicized pan-Asian community to organize around community and institutional change.

Berkshire Immigrant Center

The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to advocate for the rights of all immigrants by helping them navigate the complex U.S. immigration system with affordable legal services, local resources, and education.

Berkshire Immigrant Center provides its clients with tools to help them overcome financial and cultural barriers, with the goals of strengthening civic engagement and creating equal opportunity for all. Berkshire Immigrant Center supports changes to systems which are unjust to immigrants, and supports state and national immigration advocacy efforts.

The Center assists more than 700 individuals annually from more than 60 countries in several languages. Our Case Workers are accredited by the Department of Justice to represent clients with the US Citizen and Immigration Services and give legal advice to those seeking immigration benefits in the US and education on civil rights.

67 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-445-4881
www.berkshireic.org
[email protected]

Black Student Union

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

The BSU is an organization that serves the Black-identifying and allied students at Williams through the consistent hosting of cultural, social, political, academic, and other events throughout the year. The goal of hosting all these events is to create and maintain community, networks of support, pass on our institutional history, and ultimately serve the needs of Black students during their time here.

Central Americans For Empowerment

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

CAFÉ is a student-led organization that is mindful of the needs of both Central Americans in higher education and Central Americans in the broader community. We intend to create partnerships with external organizations to cater to specific needs and open opportunities for students after college. We will also connect with Central American alumni to strengthen community ties with Williams.

Chinese American Students Organization

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

The Chinese American Student Organization (CASO) organizes social gatherings that interact with Chinese culture in various ways. Dedicated to boosting the local Chinese community at Williams and building a deeper appreciation of our culture in the larger Williams community, we engage with Asian American issues, connect with global movements, and work with other MinCo groups to build cross-cultural dialogues through events and workshops.

CLiA Community Outreach Summer Fellowship

This paid summer program trains a small team of Williams students to help build better community service and experiential learning opportunities at Williams.  The selected rising Sophomores and Juniors are initially oriented to the Berkshires and trained in key skill areas before spending the balance of their time immersed and leading others in community engagement work.  This 8-week, 35-hour/week position reports to the CLiA Director.

Additional Information & Application:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/community-outreach-summer-fellowship

 

Disabled Student Union

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

The purpose of Disabled Student Union is to support disabled people, especially disabled Williams students. It provides a place for the disabled community, accessible outreach, and self-advocacy.

Education Outreach

For 20+ years, Williams has partnered with our local educators to create hands-on programming that serve the needs of the children and their families in a host of Berkshire County schools in the areas of science, writing, mentoring, homework help and more. Currently, more than 350 students participate and serve in K-12 schools in paid and volunteer positions in Williamstown, Lanesborough, North Adams and Pittsfield. We welcome your involvement and ideas, and look forward to hearing from you! Please visit the Education Outreach section of our website for more information.

Ephoria A Cappella

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Ephoria is Williams College’s oldest historically women’s a cappella group, established to provide a platform for a cappella singing and performance both at Williams and in the wider local and national community.

Ephraise

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Ephraise is meant to be a dynamic organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the insular environment of Williams College and the rest of the world. Our main goal is to be an organization that expressly fundraises for multiple causes than for any specific one. To do so, we plan to harness the power of food-based fundraising to raise vital funds for addressing various social and economic issues, both local and internationally. Ephraise plans to organize fundraisers, informational talks, student dinners with professors, and cuisine-based events (like learning how to make a specific dish).

Ephs at the Clark

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Our organization creates a partnership with the Clark in which we can host student-led events for special occasions, work with multiple museum departments to have the ability to ask questions and learn from Clark staff and think critically about the Clark and its collection. The Clark is a valuable resource to have nearby and we try to collaborate as much as possible!

Frosh Council

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Mike Ludwig ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Ellen Rogeau
Meeting Time/Place: Weekly in Hopkins Hall

Frosh Council is a student-elected committee that meets weekly and plans events and functions for First Years. For instance, we held Frosh Formal this past January and designed and sold class apparel.

Great Ideas Committee

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Luke Baumann ([email protected])
Meeting Time/Place: College Council Suite, time according to members’ schedule

The Great Ideas Committee solicits ideas from the community to improve student life at Williams. These ideas can be conveniences (such as installing water fountains or buying chargers for the library), policy changes, improved communication systems, or anything else, though the scope of the projects is generally smaller than the larger policy questions debated by College Council or faculty committees. We draw from the CC Projects fund.

Website

Hats for the Homeless

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Jane Tekin
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Tracy Finnegan
Meeting Time/Place: TBD

Hats for the Homeless is an organization in which students use fiber arts to engage with the Berkshires. We knit and crochet hats, scarves, and other warm gear for homeless shelters in local communities in an effort to encourage engagement with them.

Jazz at Williams

This group is inactive as of the 2023-24 academic year.

Student Leaders: Matt Wisotsky (mjw7) & Gwyn Chilcoat (gac4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Kris Allen

J@W provides opportunities for student jazz musicians at Williams to meet and play with other musicians and to stay informed of informal performances around campus. It also organizes events and invites guest artists independently of the music department, with an emphasis on engaging students with one another and with the broader jazz community.

Muslim Student Union

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

We provide a space for the spiritual and cultural enrichment of all Muslims on campus, regardless of degree of worship. We also partner with other faith and MinCo groups to foster cultural exchange and to unite members of different backgrounds. Our events range from weekly congregational prayer to campus-wide potlucks; from speaker events to movie nights. The MSU is committed to serving the Williams community with absolute inclusiveness. Everyone—regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation—is welcome in the MSU space at all times.

Native Americans Student Alliance

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

We are a student club dedicated to foster a safe space for other Native and indigenous students through events and workshops.

Purplexity

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Purplexity is an a cappella group that will rehearse 2-3 times a week and perform at its own pace in more casual settings. We will hold auditions at the start of each semester to fill the openings for voice parts.

Ritmo

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Ritmo of Williams College aims to share experiences and culture of the Latine and Afro-Latine diaspora through performance and dance. Our mission is to share dance styles and their histories with the greater Williams community and create a safe environment for students to learn about Latine and Afro-Latine cultures, including through other means such as music, food, and language.

Sankofa

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Sankofa is Williams College first and only step dancing team. We perform multiple times a year showcasing steps choreographed by members past and present.

South Asian Student Association

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

SASA’s purpose as a student organization is primarily to foster a sense of community and create an all-inclusive space for members of the Williams community who self-identify as South Asian. We advocate for South Asian representation within the larger Asian and Asian-American communities on campus.

SASA strives to celebrate the South Asian experience by showcasing a diverse range of cultural experiences (including food, music, dance, and much more), collaborating with on-campus religious groups to celebrate religious events, and hosting guest speaker events. We also aim to open our doors to the wider Williams community and those who are interested in learning about our cultures to engage in a wider campus dialogue.

South East Asian Students

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

This student body serves to represent Southeast Asian identifying students and promote cultural exchange for all students. We seek to provide safe spaces and events to build community, articulate our identities, and connect with both allies and faculty. Beyond just social events, we also plan on engaging internationally through fundraising for Southeast Asian countries in crisis and lobbying for Southeast Asian student needs within the campus. We aim to create spaces that will facilitate critical engagement, interrogation, and exploration of Southeast Asian cultures and the legacies embedded therein. We affirm the diversity of Southeast Asian cultures, ethnicities, and subcultures, as well as recognize the capacity for solidarity within the community.

Students of Caribbean Ancestry

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

SoCA is a bridge between the Caribbean, the Williams College community, and all who are interested in Caribbean culture. This organization is a forum for those who are involved to interact, share, and learn about Caribbean cultures. SoCA is also active in organizing activities aimed at fostering interaction among the Caribbean community and introducing the Caribbean/its culture to the rest of the Williams College community and those outside of Williams College.

The Aristocows

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

This is a non-audition a cappella group that exclusively sings arrangements of songs from Disney-owned franchises. We hold rehearsals a couple times a week and have social events.

The Springstreeters

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

We are an all-male/non-binary a cappella group who arrange and sing a wide range of songs from barbershop to current pop.

United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Western Massachusetts — an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy Association — was established in 1961. UCP of Western Massachusetts offers service navigation, direct programming, assistive technology and advocacy for any individual, regardless of disability, to pursue a fulfilling, self-determined, high-quality community life — a life without limits. UCP’s mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full community participation of children and adults with all physical and developmental disabilities.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/united-cerebral-palsy

Williams College Gospel Choir

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

We are a Christian-based, student-led music group that fosters love and compassion among the members of the choir through song. Every semester the choir host a concert where we ask the community to join us in song. We extend beyond the Williams campus and engage with the community around us, performing at local churches and events; people of all faiths or no faith are invited to join.

Williams College Jewish Association

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

WCJA is a pluralistic Jewish organization that hosts many cultural and educational activities along with religious events. Our main goal is to create a strong Jewish community on campus.

Williamstown Chamber of Commerce

The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce serves Williamstown and our neighboring communities by supporting efforts in communication, education and coordination of our members, our residents and our visitors.
Williamstown is the home of two major institutions – Williams College and The Clark Art Institute. Many of the visitors to our community come here initially for one of those two but return (or stay) for many other reasons. We are nearby great skiing, gorgeous golf, cultural attractions, and natural beauty.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/williamstown-chamber-of-commerce

Williamstown Historical Museum

The Williamstown House of Local History was founded in 1941 to promote knowledge of the town’s history by collecting and preserving materials, mounting exhibitions, presenting educational programs and facilitating research. Its goal is to document the diverse people and buildings, the associations and institutions, the businesses and events which form the town’s history from the earliest days to the present time. The collection includes photographs, documents and artifacts from the 1700s to the present day as well as published material on the town and genealogical material on local families.

If you’re interested in history, the Williamstown Historical Museum is the place for you!  We are a museum and research center that maintains a collection of photos, artifacts and documents that relate to Williamstown’s past. We work to increase the public’s knowledge of Williamstown’s past in a variety of ways including educational exhibits, programs, events, research and publications.

We have numerous volunteer opportunities available. Our goal is to help you to use your talents and interests in a way that allows our organization to maintain a diverse collection of photos, artifacts, documents and manuscripts, and use our materials to educate the public about the town.  As a volunteer you are a valued member of our team and you will develop a greater connection to the community around you as your understanding of our local history grows. All of our volunteers will receive training and a manual to assist you with your work.

To learn more about our organization please visit our museum, visit our website or give Sarah or Nancy at the WHM a call:

32 New Ashford Road
Williamstown, MA
413-458-2160
www.williamstownhistoricalmuseum.org
[email protected]
Contact: Sarah Currie ([email protected]), Director

Willy Good Wood

Student Leaders: Geff Fisher ([email protected]), Jensen Pak ([email protected]u), Robert Hefferon ([email protected]), Evelyn Mahon ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Ben Lamb ([email protected])
Meeting Time/Place: Monthly, First Congregational Church

Our organization aims to provide an opportunity for Williams College students to learn and practice woodworking and related handicrafts in a safe and educational environment. We also aim to engage with the community through woodworking-related service projects with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. The club offers a place for students to create and work with their hands in a way that may not be included in their normal academic schedule, and a chance to engage in community service projects using the skills they have acquired through club activities.

Zambezi Marimba Band

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

Zambezi is a Zimbabwean-style marimba ensemble that performs both traditional and pop music. Our work ties together both music and dance in events such as the Zambezi Dance Party and our collaborations with Dance Department groups.

¡Vive!

When available, the complete list of active Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for the current academic year can be found on the Office of Campus Life website. If you would like to contact the student leader(s) of this organization, please email [email protected].

¡Vive! organizes and performs music pertaining to the Latinx diaspora with the vocal and instrumental skills of a diverse group of students. Through the presentation of, as well as interaction with, ethnic and cultural identities, the group provides and creates a space for the celebration and continued discovery of a minority identity, as well as further appreciation of differing cultural realities. We will arrange and learn music as a group and invite the community to be a part of our work, a collaborative exchange of ideas and musical experiences.