By Nada Sewidan

When asked what makes the Literature and Writing Club unique, club President Michael O’Marah and Vice President Marie Parrish spoke about the importance of promoting literacy and love for books.

However, the club is not only exclusive to literature and writing majors in general. O’Marah and Parrish emphasized the larger aspects of the club’s purpose of getting involved in the CSUSM community and getting to know one another in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

The LTWR Club, also known as Club Cognoscenti, was originally started four years ago by Michael O’Marah and Marie Parrish and is overseen by faculty Professor Heidi Breuer. At the start of the semester there were a total of four people members, however, the club has now expanded to approximately 30 to 40 people.

There are several events planned for the semester including an open mike poetry reading on March 19, a trip to the Huntington library and a bonfire at the beach. There is also an ongoing Easter egg hunt where Club members hide Easter eggs throughout various places on campus.

Parish and O’Marah highlight the relaxed, laid back and friendly environment of the meetings.

“You don’t have to come to every meeting,” O’Marah said. “We want people to enjoy being there and we want it to be fun.”

Some of the events the LTWR club has held in the past include three minute skits of Shakespeare’s witches from Macbeth and the whole Harry Potter Series. “We got to dress up and act out the plot in three minutes,” said Parrish. “It was a rewarding experience because it got the attention of other students and got them interested.”

The club president’s duties include increase membership, raise money and generate ideas for events and meetings while club vice president Parrish plans, organizes and implements the events.

“We have a good team dynamic,” Parrish said.

In order to raise money for club and campus events, club members employ several fundraisers throughout the semester. Such fundraisers will include a create your own T-shirt event where students purchase a shirt and have the opportunity to print anything they like on it. Other fundraisers include a book sale and some signed copies of professor’s books.

“We try to be as welcoming as we can be,” said O’Marah.

“You don’t have to be a Literature and Writing major to join the club,” said Parrish.

Club Cognoscenti meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. of every month in Markstein 322.