For decades, clubs have been central to university life within Dalhousie and around the world. Clubs were a crucial place where friendships formed, identities developed, and communities grew. From student councils to rowing clubs and debate societies, extracurriculars once defined the student experience. However, as the new generation takes over the campus, many are asking: Are university clubs fading away?
Scott Forsyth, a Dalhousie alum who attended from 1984 to 1988, remembers a campus culture formed around involvement and community.
“When I was at Dalhousie, I joined the rowing club … I met people outside of my field, and connected with the nearby nature,” he said. “My roommate was president of a young conservatives club, and my girlfriend was in the swim club. Her roommate was in marine biology, and scuba dived in the nearby ocean with members of a club.”
Today’s students seem less inclined to get involved as they face a different reality.
The Dal Ski and Snowboard Club (DSSC) was ratified last semester after eight years of inactivity. While interest has been strong, co-presidents Marley Price and Isabel Andrews say rising living costs limit participation.
“Many students used to be able to get by with just working full-time in the summer, but now with the skyrocketing price of groceries, rent and tuition … students are finding it difficult to engage in or pay for extracurriculars on top of both working, studying and paying for it all,” they said. Even social expenses are adding up, with lift tickets costing up to $200 and a casual pint costing upwards of $10.
DSSC is working to make skiing and snowboarding more accessible by offering discounted tickets and rentals while still prioritizing inclusivity. Still, they acknowledge that socioeconomic stress will continue to affect student involvement.
“We encourage all students to get involved in extracurriculars if not for the financial return, then for the community-building and opportunities to get out on the slopes,” they said.
Isabella Stefek, President of the Dalhousie Undergraduate Political Science Society (DUPSS), says club participation has dropped after COVID but has steadily increased over the past two years, especially among executive teams.
At the same time, she’s noticed that Gen Z is more hesitant when it comes to joining extracurriculars.
“I think it’s because of social media,” she said. “People still feel connected to our society and other groups in general just via posts. There are a good amount of people that love in person connection and thrive off of society meetings and events.”
A 2014 study found that college and university freshmen spend less time socializing face-to-face and more time online. COVID further challenged students’ ability to form connections, with many starting university virtually.
Participation data reflects this shift, stating nearly one-third of students spend zero hours a week on extracurriculars, while about half spend only one to five hours.
Inequalities exist across groups. One-third of women report no involvement, compared to a quarter of men and a fifth of nonbinary students. Forty percent of Hispanic students report no involvement compared to 29 percent each of white and Black students and 16 percent of Asian students.
Despite these challenges, clubs aren’t disappearing – they’re changing. Financial pressures, social media, and pandemic disruption have reshaped campus life. Many students juggle work and schooling, leaving little time for extracurriculars. Others maintain community online instead of in person.
Still, renewed interest in clubs such as the DSSC suggests that some students continue to seek connection.
University clubs may no longer look like how they did decades ago; however, they remain a space for leadership and belonging. For Gen Z, the issue isn’t lack of interest; it’s finding a more accessible and inclusive way to build community in a more demanding world.