Winona State University’s Student Senate was absent from streaming services Tuesday, Sept. 1 due to recording issues.

Senate meetings prior to the COVID-19 pandemic were broadcasted weekly on Winona State’s website, but now alternative media outlets such as Facebook and Zoom are relied on to connect students with representatives.

“We’re still relatively new to running Zoom, so some of these issues are either out of our control or are due to forgetfulness,” Senate President Clara Kuerschner said.

While Facebook and Zoom have presented obstacles for Student Senate, it has also provided an added benefit.

“Before the pandemic, our livestreams would only give our viewers a one-time opportunity to watch the meeting, but that’s changed since Facebook videos are accessible whenever,” Kuerschner said.

Student Senate is just one example of clubs wavering through new terrain during a pandemic-ridden semester.

For the Political Science Association, recruitment has become increasingly challenging due to a lack of in-person outreach, according to their president Sarah Henry.

“With COVID-19, we’ve had to adjust our strategy since normal routes of traditional recruitment no longer apply,” Henry said.

Henry said instead of being physically present at the club fair, the club had to create a two-minute video that informs new students on what they’re about.

“Decline in participation, along a halt of normal recruiting practices, could mean the death for this club,” Henry said.

For existing clubs, sustainability is the central issue, while new clubs are focused on establishment.

Recruitment has been way down and is causing a bit of concern, according to Gabrielle Bogolin, president of National Society of Leadership and Success, a new club at Winona State.

“My initial approach to attain new members was through flyers, the club fair, and in person classroom settings, but that’s all changed since campus isn’t open,” Bogolin said.

Direct emails to students from school organizations are the primary way to enlist now, according to Bogolin.

“As a new club, we need to be able to recruit, ensuring survival and a continuation of what’s been started,” Bogolin said.

For now, clubs will have to continue innovating ways to reach students during an out of the ordinary school year.

The opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of Winona State University, the Minnesota State Colleges and University system, or the Winona State University student body.