The new “Trek and Tea” club made its debut at the spring co-curricular fair on Friday, Feb. 14. The club’s leadership includes its president, Josh Johnson ’28, its vice president, Spirit Sukut ’28, and its secretary, Lily Houston ’28. Trek and Tea meets weekly on Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Undset Room in Buntrock.
“We have snacks, tea, and hot chocolate. And the members get to choose what [Star Trek episode or movie] we get to watch,” Johnson said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger. “It’s chill and it’s a good time.”
The club gathers to watch a variety of different Star Trek series, not just the original, ranging from the Star Trek movies to Voyager and even “the Veggietales spoof,” Johnson said.
The club welcomes Star Trek fans and those unfamiliar with Star Trek alike: “We want to connect trekkies on campus, create new trekkies, and be a welcoming space for anyone to come enjoy food and entertainment,” Houston said in an email interview with The Olaf Messenger. Sukut shared a similar sentiment. “We want the club to have a sense of community,” they said.
The club chooses which episodes or movie will be shown each meeting through a spreadsheet. Johnson says this is to ensure not just one person is choosing what the club will watch every time. “We make sure everyone feels welcome,” Johnson said, “and we always talk it out.”
Johnson, Sukut, and Houston have all experienced a positive reception of Trek and Tea. “The club has grown very fast. We’ve gone from five members to around thirty on the mailing list,” Sakut said.
One of the primary goals of the new club is to be a welcoming space to everyone interested in attending, even if it’s just for the refreshments: “It’s hard to find a fault with cookies and hot drinks,” Houston said.
