Staff writer: sophie machesky

Posing for a group photo is the embodiment of PAWS. (From left to right) Club Member Reagan Smith, Advisor Amanda Collins, Club Member Mikayla Williams, Treasurer Alexis McDonald, President Colby Cain, and Vice President Ian Palaisa.

Jan. 23 at 12:15 p.m. the Pride Alliance Working for Students (or “PAWS”) held their first meeting of the spring semester in the Student Success Center at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus. With low attendance and a limited budget, the club attempts to meet regularly to discuss fundraising events and community activities. The past and future of PAWS is being discussed. 

According to the club’s description on the university’s website, “[PAWS] serves as a forum for LGBT+ students and allies to discuss topics about the LGBT+ community and to promote the importance of acceptance and understanding of the community.” 

Though PAWS attempts to empower students who often feel alone and mistreated due to their sexuality, they often face judgment from students with anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs. In 2021, there was a club that was made up at University Park that was very anti-LGBTQ+. Cain says, “we all felt very offended by it. There were protests by students who just didn’t feel like our kind of club should have a space [to express itself].” Those that felt uncomfortable with the protests nearly went to express their side of the discussion, but Cain says “I believe everyone should have their own beliefs as long as they don’t harm someone else, but we definitely will and do stand up for others… I’ve had instances of [discrimination] on campus. When we have our events, it’s very noticeable that people just don’t want to engage… the amount of students that just stand 30 feet away from the table and stare at us… there’s nothing I can do, but being in PAWS has opened my eyes about [differing opinions].”

Many clubs at Penn State Fayette struggle with engagement. There aren’t a lot of students enrolled, so there aren’t many interested in joining the available clubs. “My freshman year, I had really low engagement. I honestly was doing every event myself and burnt myself out,” Cain says, “I love PAWS with my entire heart… diversity, equity, and inclusion are very close to my heart… but without help from other people, I just burnt myself out doing it.”

In the past, clubs and organizations at Penn State Fayette would rely on allocated funds from the Student Government Association (SGA) to host activities. However, the SGA’s allocated funds have been taken away (in addition to other fiscal cuts occurring throughout Penn State). With constant budget cuts and lower enrollment, organizations at Penn State Fayette suffer to be recognized. Cain went on to say, “I think there is definitely more that we can do on our parts to get people more engaged… but with the allocated funds being taken away, that does affect club engagement in some way. We don’t have a lot of money.”

If students are willing to put effort into organizations, though, money and size barely matter. Cain praised her fellow club members, saying, “they make it worthwhile… our friendship bracelet-making event was the most fun I’ve had so far. There were only four to five of us helping, but the amount of support they gave me- I’ve never experienced that before… it works so well. We don’t have a lot of people, but we make it work when we can. I wish we could do more, but I’m happy with what we do.”

Cain has been the president of PAWS for three years. Worried of being seen as an over controlling leader, she has effectively reactivated an organization that empowers voices, space, and inclusion. From the outside looking in, PAWS is a close-knit group of students that act more like friends than business partners.

This semester, PAWS is planning on hosting a Valentine’s Day themed fundraiser where students can purchase goodies to be delivered to other students. The money collected from this fundraiser will be put towards an interactive event later in the semester to provide students with tie dye shirts while celebrating LGBTQ+ awareness. 

When asked what PAWS means to her, Cain says, “My own friend told me ‘Colby, you just don’t realize how much it could mean to one person seeing your event and if they came to visit or is a student with a little inkling in the back of their mind, or if they aren’t accepted at home or don’t feel accepted, seeing that might make the world of a difference. It might make them feel less alone.’ I have my own experience with being outed, and it definitely hits close to home to me. When I started PAWS, I wanted to make sure that no one felt the same way that I did in high school.”