"Scientific studies have shown that when left-handers are forced to write in righty desks, it causes pain in the shoulders, neck and back," Adam Gartner '07, a concerned co-founder of the Left-Handers Association (LHA), said. "And I also know this from experience."Gartner and fellow left-handers' rights activist Sam Yospe '07 recently co-founded the organization based upon their observation of the deficit of left-handers' desks in the numerous lecture halls around campus.

"Brandeis is a progressive university that prides itself on making everyone feel comfortable," Yospe said. "Therefore, there is no reason that there shouldn't be seating for left-handed students."
While the organization does not receive funding, it is recognized by the Union senate.

"We understand (the senate's) feelings and at this point, all we needed was to be recognized," Gartner said. "In the future, if necessary, we'll seek to be chartered."

The club, currently focusing on the installation of left-handed desks into lecture halls, will strive to enforce "left-handers' rights," as Yospe indicated. These rights, he said, are basically comprised of supplying classrooms with lefty desks and accommodating any needs that lefties might encounter in the future.

In the past few years, several clubs have arisen at Brandeis that, much like the LHA, cater to specific needs of small groups on campus.
"As leaders of our organization, we sometimes feel like we don't know enough about wine," said Oenology Club leader Brett Friedman '04. Oenology is the study of wine.

With close to 40 students in attendance, Wednesday's Oneology club meeting was the first of the year. Fully sanctioned by the Office of Student Life and winning "best new club of the year" last year, the club is growing even stronger in its second year than when it had just started.

"Kate Tansey '03 started the club last year after she returned to Brandeis from France," co-leader Sara Horowitz '04 said. "She was impressed by how much people knew wines there and she wanted to bring that interest here."

"Now, people can go to restaurants and order the right glass of wine with the right food," Horowitz said.

"While there are mainly seniors, the club is open to anyone, including grad students," Friedman said. "We even have faculty come and teach about different types of wines and the (club members') parents are usually proud of them because now their children can also know fine wines." Professor Steven Gendzier (ROCL), who left Brandeis in May, was among the many who taught students about the culture of wine tasting.

In the future, Friedman said that the club leaders hope to "take a trip to a winery and do a whole seminar on wine tasting."

Recreational organizations are also popular. One such example is Consoles Gamers X (CGX). "The main goals of the club are basically to play video games and enjoy ourselves," CGX Vice President Karel Charles '04 said. "We also hope to run charity events and donate portions of the proceedings to a selected charity, which we have not yet designated."

The club, comprised of around 12 members, has been around for about two years now.

"The CGX is all about taking a break from the rigors of work and beating up imaginary people in the form of video games," Charels said. "It is a stress relief to many, and a very welcome one. Apparently a lot of people like to play video games on campus...go figure."

Students whose interests center more in the dietary sphere can seek guidance from various food-oriented clubs.

"At the Brandeis University Vegan/Vegetarian Association (BUVA), we try to raise vegan and vegetarian awareness on campus, and to obtain more vegan options in the dining halls and in the C-Store," Kathryn Harris '06, president of BUVA, said.

"(The club) enables people who are vegans and vegetarians to have a vehicle through which they can lobby for more options," she added.
With varied interests come varied outlets for expression. At Brandeis, this translates into one-of-a-kind clubs that seek to accommodate fellow students from every angle possible.