Mariajose Garza 
PHOTO COURTESY GREYZ GONZALEZ
The American Sign Language Club at UTRGV allows students to learn and practice ASL while experiencing the culture of the deaf community, according to Mario Salinas, the ASL club’s event coordinator.
“I’m deaf myself, and it’s my natural language,” Salinas said. “So, [the club] is really to get into the culture.”
Greyz Gonzalez, the president of the club, said it is not required to have ASL classes or major to be part of the club.
“The club is a good place to start socializing and learn the basics of ASL,” Gonzalez said.
She added the club allows you to meet people who are deaf and learn the different styles of ASL that people use.
The club hosts activity based games, such as hand painting, for students and the community to get involved, according to Gonzalez.
“We plan to host more events to get students motivated to learn the language and continue on with it,” she added.
Gonzalez said the organization’s members want to promote the ASL club as a place to slowly start picking up the language.
“You don’t need to know ASL right now,” she said. “You can just socialize with the other members.”
The club meets from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday on the Edinburg campus. For more information, visit its Instagram @aslclubatutrgv.
“[The club] feels united as a group with two different cultures and a place for students to feel welcome,” Salinas said.
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