ASL (American Sign Language) club had its first meeting Sept. 12 and will continue to meet twice a month during Hawk Time in the media center. ASL is run by seniors Miriam Storey and RJ Warner, while also sponsored by the head librarian, Jenny Wirtz.  

After previously ending in 2019, the club recently had their opening meeting and began by helping members introduce themselves using sign language.

“My sophomore year I wanted to join an ASL group, but it didn’t exist,” Warner said. “It was around spring last school year that I came to Miriam to start up an ASL club, but there were some teacher conflicts so it was unable to happen.”

After being promoted at the club fair by Storey and Warner, the club was also represented by other members such as junior Aiden Fries and senior Vance Schneider. With their efforts, they brought in 38 students to their first meeting.

“It can hopefully grow bigger so more people will be able to communicate with the deaf community,” Storey said. “Or even go out to retirement homes and communicate with the seniors there.”

Storey states that her mom is deaf, so starting an active ASL club can create more support for the deaf community by being able to communicate with those who are a part of it.

“I use it in my house a lot with my mom ever since I was a baby,” Storey said. “I am not fully fluent but she can usually lip-read what I am trying to say.”

Wirtz hopes that through the ASL club, students will be able to gain empathy and understanding for those dealing with hearing loss.

“I was interested in being the club sponsor because recently I lost the hearing in my right ear,” Wirtz said. “So when I knew they were looking for a sponsor, I already had a vested interest in this.”

Currently the club meets in the library, but Wirtz hopes that they outgrow the space and get the opportunity to engage in the community as well. ASL club will be holding its second meeting Thursday, Sept. 26.

”I don’t want the space to be limited, so the sky is the limit. We just have to problem solve,” Wirtz said.