LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico State campus is welcoming a new club that is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of American Sign Language and Deaf culture.
The newly formed club started last semester, and their mission is to promote the use and appreciation of ASL, while raising awareness of the Deaf culture and community. The club is open to all students regardless of ASL proficiency levels.
The club hosts tabling events, study sessions, coffee fundraisers, general meetings and potlucks to raise money for future events the club wishes to do as finances are holding the club back for now.
President Alexis Morales started the club on her own and since then the club has been growing with more new members and officers.
“I was a little bit by myself, when I first started [ASL club],” “Morales said. “…but that was one of my main goals, to start [an ASL club].
Morales wanted to start the club because she saw a need for a more inclusive space, where ASL and the Deaf community would be celebrated, learned about and engaged with meaning on campus. This club creates a space where everyone can learn, support and build lasting connections with one another.
Morales, who is a pre-nursing student at NMSU with a bachelor’s in biochemistry, said her experience helping patients during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the direction of her life and ultimately inspired her to pursue nursing. During that time, she also witnessed the struggle the Deaf community had to endure and hopes to use her skills in ASL to understand them in her career going forward.
“Hopefully I get to use [ASL] in the medical field rather than an interpreter — I think it’s more personal,” Morales said. “If I can do more than just providing aid [by] providing that interpretation and easing that fear when you’re in the doctor’s office.”
The club has their own Deaf Ambassador, Amanda Evaro. Evaro is not an NMSU student however. She is a mother of three children as well as three bonus children who are Child of Deaf Adult (CODA is a hearing individual with one or more deaf or hard-of-hearing parents.) Evaro’s husband also hosts a Deaf Men’s Night Out in Las Cruces.
ASL goes far beyond campus and club members are grateful to have Evaro in their corner. She brings an insight and a voice that helps guides the clubs decisions to make sure the events, fundraisers and other outreach efforts are not just about Deaf culture, but are created with Deaf individuals in mind.
Professor Jacalyn Whiteman is the clubs advisor as well as the American Sign Language Program coordinator at NMSU. Whiteman’s contact can be found here:
Email: jacalynw@nmsu.edu | Comms Sciences 234-A | 646-4313
As the club continues to develop, its members aim to create a welcoming environment for anyone interested in ASL or Deaf culture. Their goal is simple: foster awareness, encourage learning and strengthen communication across campus.
Students can sign up to take ASL classes on campus, and the courses can help satisfy requirements for language credits. The three classes students can take are: SIGN 1110, SIGN 1120 and SIGN 1130.
Events Calendar
Nov. 15 – Deaf Community Basketball Night
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Pan American Center
Details: The Deaf community will be seated in section 111 at the NMSU vs UNM basketball game Saturday, Nov. 15, with an extended invitation to ASL students to sit in section 114.
Nov. 20 – Coffee Fundraiser
Time: 9 a.m. to noon.
Location: Outside Communication Science Building
Details: Selling iced and hot coffee for $3 to fund club activities.
Dec. 1 – General Club Meeting
Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Location: DOM Hall 252
Details: Discussing December events.
Dec. 4 – Coffee Fundraiser
Time: 9 a.m. to noon.
Location: Outside Communication Science Building
Details: Selling iced and hot coffee for $3 to fund club activities.
Dec. 5 – Potluck & Fundraiser
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: TBA
Details: The ASL Club’s end-of-semester Potluck and Fundraiser aims to bring together ASL students and members of the Deaf community for an evening of food, games and conversation in a welcoming environment for all signing levels. Guests are encouraged to bring a dish or donate canned goods, with all proceeds and food items going to local food banks and Pete’s Pantry to help combat food insecurity in the community.
For more information contact:
Instagram: @nmsu.asl
Facebook: NMSU ASL Club
Email: nmsu.asl@gmail.com
GroupMe: ASL Club at NMSU
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