Dancing into campus life: Areum K-Pop Club becomes official

Augustana University’s newest student group, the Areum K-Pop Dance Club, officially received recognition as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) after an unanimous vote by the Augustana Student Association (ASA) on Oct. 5 — marking another step toward expanding international and cultural communities on campus.

“It’s really nice being able to see all of these various groups come to campus and come to ASA with their new ideas and concepts, and it’s really nice to be a part of that process,” senior Mariam Alinizi, chair of the Sustainability in House and Dining committee, said. “It’s amazing that we have students with the desire to [start new clubs] at Augustana, seeing that we have so many international students that would benefit from this club and these events.”

Founded by students passionate about Korean pop culture and performance, the club aims to bring together dancers of all levels to celebrate music, movement and community through K-pop choreography.

Freshman club president Arvin Ariunbat and sophomore vice president Lumu Tso Lama said their goal is to create a welcoming space that helps students relieve academic stress while enjoying dance and connection.

“As students, we all know how isolating it can feel to study alone for long hours,” Ariunbat said. “Our club’s goal is to provide students with a space to relax, connect and recharge as well as celebrate K-pop culture on campus.”

Lama added that the club’s founders are not choreographers, so the purpose of the club is to enlighten the campus by having fun together and showcasing Korean dance culture without judgment.

“Clubs at Augie are welcoming regardless of your skill or knowledge level,” Lama said. "We hope to be inclusive and supportive of your interest or curiosity.”

With its new RSO status, the Areum K-Pop Dance Club will have access to allocated club funding through ASA to bring students together through dance, music and cultural celebration.

Club secretary sophomore Stuti Shrestha said the group hopes to contribute to both the cultural and social life of Augustana.

“We encourage participation from all students, regardless of experience, to promote friendship, physical activity, and stress relief,” Shrestha said.

She added that Areum will host a variety of activities, including K-pop game nights, random dance sessions and weekly practices that encourage collaboration and community building.

The club will meet every Monday from 7–9 p.m. in the Elmen Center’s Multipurpose Room. To accommodate students’ busy schedules, meetings are not mandatory and practice videos will be shared with those unable to attend.

“This way, students who miss a meeting can still stay engaged and easily rejoin the next session without falling behind,” Ariunbat said.

Shrestha said forming the club has been one of the most rewarding parts of her college experience so far.

“I’m learning something new almost every day — whether it’s planning, organizing, or just working with others,” she said. “It’s exciting to watch the club slowly come together and see people join and get excited. The best part is definitely creating a space where people can relax, be themselves, and have fun while doing something they love.”

Students interested in joining the Areum K-Pop Dance Club can find the group on Viking Central.

“Just go for it,” Alinizi said. “It really can’t hurt by going to events, showing interest, showing that you care.”