By Brandon Cortés
Features Editor
The smell of fresh cookies and homemade pastries filled the Engleman Hall Rotunda last week, as the American Sign Language Club hosted its fall bake sale, not just to raise funds, but to bring visibility to the Deaf community and ignite curiosity about ASL among students.
For anthropology major Elena Picano, a senior and the club’s president, the sale represented something far more meaningful than a fundraiser.
“We wanted something accessible and personal,” Picano said. “Homemade goods help bring people in. It starts with a cookie, but the real goal is to start conversations about Deaf culture and the importance of learning ASL.”
Psychology major Alex Cruz, a junior and the club’s vice president, said the bake sale was designed with intention not only to raise money, but to involve members in a hands-on way that fostered ownership and pride within the club.
“Fundraisers usually partner with outside companies,” Cruz said. “But by keeping it here, made by our members, it becomes collaborative. People feel like they’re part of something, not just supporting it.”
Founded in 2020, the ASL Club initially struggled to gain traction, especially during the pandemic when meetings were held over Zoom.
Cruz, who is autistic,- said ASL became deeply personal for her before she even joined the club. Learning sign language allowed her to express herself authentically when speaking felt overwhelming.
“I already had a passion for it,” Cruz said. “ASL helped me communicate when words didn’t. Now, I want others to learn and feel empowered, too.”
The club now meets weekly in the student center in Room 305, where members review the ASL alphabet before moving on to themed lessons — fall terms, colors, animals, numbers — and discussions centered around Deaf history and culture. Both leaders stress that the club is open to everyone, regardless of experience.
“You don’t need any background at all,” Cruz said. “We understand what it’s like to be a beginner. We’re patient and encouraging. Some members struggle at first, but we work through it together.”
That inclusive approach has shaped the club’s mission: not just to teach a language, but to foster appreciation and respect for the Deaf community, whose history Cruz said is often overlooked or misunderstood in mainstream education.
“There’s a lot of misinformation about ASL,” Picano said. “Signs evolve. Culture matters. Just like with any language, you can’t separate the words from the people who use them.”
As the club continues to grow, its leaders have their eyes on the future. They hope to bring in certified deaf speakers and host events that go beyond the classroom, immersing students in Deaf culture through interactive learning and campuswide engagement.
Picano said she envisions the club becoming a hub for advocacy as much as education.
“I want people to recognize the people behind the language,” Picano said. “Not just learn signs, but understand Deaf experiences, history and resilience.””
