The Blue Heart Initiative for open student clubs at UC Berkeley
Looking for a new hobby? Maybe meet some like-minded folks or just want to supplement your schedule for the hours in between classes? Well, then you should try a club. You’ve probably heard that before, but sometimes it’s a little bit more intimidating than that, right? Especially when it’s something new with strangers. While UC Berkeley has a ton of student organizations, not every club on campus is open to beginners. That’s why we have the Blue Heart Initiative.
If you haven’t heard of it, the Blue Heart Initiative is a special marker for Berkeley clubs to show how excited they are to have anyone and everyone join their organizations. In CalLink, registered student organizations that are classified as “open membership,” show up with a blue heart [💙] next to their name and do not have a formal application process. I’ve decided to spotlight just a couple organizations at Cal that find it essential to their mission to be open to all. I spoke to Cameron of Aglet Noise Collective and some of the folks over at Furries of Berkeley to find out what their values and goals are, why being a Blue Heart organization is conducive to those values, and what a new member should expect when coming in.
Aglet Noise Collective
An introduction to the club from one of the current presidents, Cameron:
“Aglet Noise was started in 2023, partially out of frustration with coffee chat culture and the bureaucratic structure of most clubs, even ones focused on music and art. We are a collective of individuals with a variety of interests, talents, and skills with ideas we want to see realized.
“We do have a board, and I have a co-president of the club, but the goal of the collective is equal opportunity; members get their hands on whatever they want to make happen. Our applications are more of an opportunity to get to know a member’s interests and what they seek to get out of the collective. We ask everyone to come up with their own project or event and give them opportunities to see those ideas through.
“That said, we naturally have a large and diverse roster of live events, from hardcore shows, folk and poetry events, to mixed media events such as a collaboration with a movement dance team and a three-piece band. We have also started making short films and are in the process of creating our first zine. All this requires a diverse group of people, so it is important for anyone to be able to join.
“This also means that our club is heavily participatory. While the level of participation is up to each member — some merely volunteer at events — those that aren’t a good fit naturally fade from the collective. Of course, they can also come back and get more involved, but we don’t find the need to reject people, especially if they are enthusiastic and willing to help out and create.
“People who join should expect to be heard, to get what they want to get out of the collective, to meet like-minded people who will allow them to make their ideas a reality, no matter how unusual.”
“That willingness and inclusivity are my favorite parts of Aglet Noise, and I think it has really allowed us to thrive as a club and as a collective of individuals.” — Cameron, Class of 2026, majoring in English
The Aglet Noise Collective’s logo.
Furries at Berkeley (Anthropomorphic Animal Appreciation Association)
An introduction to the Furries at Berkeley from their committee:
“Being a part of the Blue Heart Initiative is a core part of our club, as being open-minded and accepting is a huge part of the furry community. The Furries at Berkeley is dedicated to supporting those in and adjacent to the furry fandom, which finds a lot of common ground with queer, artistic, and neurodivergent communities!
“From these roots, we find it of utmost importance to stand for those on the margins and keep Berkeley as weird as possible. Being open for anyone to join solidifies this promise and keeps our group accepting regardless of differences in cultural backgrounds or identities. One of my favorite aspects of this organization is how it extends beyond a regular club to a vibrant community.
“The stories I’ve heard of friendships & relationships formed, protests and marches organized, and jobs and internships acquired because of interactions through this club are countless, and speaks to the success of a community beyond its stereotypes.” — Furries at Berkeley Executive Committee
Cal Day, courtesy of the AAAA CalLink gallery.
Blue Hearts, Big Ideas
The blue heart symbol represents more than an open invitation; it represents a serious commitment to cultivating a community based on positive, reciprocal values. These clubs are the social and cultural heartstrings that run through Berkeley, both the campus and the Bay Area at large. If you get the chance, you should take a look at joining these or any of the Blue Heart Initiative organizations at Cal. As students, it can sometimes be hard to find the spaces where we fit in between classes and personal life, and by joining one of these orgs, you can do more than just fill the time; you can be a part of an ideal that builds a better Bay Area for everyone, and make some good friends while you’re at it.
Vincent Vidana, Class of 2026, is majoring in English. Cover photo by Brittany Hosea-Small.
Want more?
- Meet the Berkeley Chapter Prison Education Project.
- Here’s why you should join a club!
- Learn about Cal’s Earth-first Clubs.