This has been a great semester so far for more than 80 new students,and many new clubs and programs that have been started, either by the new students or by returning students starting clubs they had wanted to start last semester and but never got around to.

Some clubs may stir heated subjects, but at the same time intrigue open-mindedness. One new club, called “Students of the Craft,” does just that.

The new club looks into the Wiccan religion for those who practice Wicca and don’t know anyone else who is Wiccan, or for those who want to learn more about it and practice the religion as well.

For those of you who may not know what Wicca is, each person you ask who is Wiccan may give you a different form of the basic answer about believing in the goddess, and being one with the divine spirit.

The club leaders do ask that only people who are serious about the Wiccan/Pagan religion to join, not those who just want to make jokes or a mockery of the religion.

There is a sub-group involved in the club called “Great White Ghost Hunters.” This group looks into how Wiccan can be used in paranormal investigation. It will also be looking deeper into paranormal activities and actual ghost hunting. Many students can look into evidence of what is unexplainable.

Natalie Mumma (one of the students running the club) said she wants to make sure others know what Wicca is.

“The main point to this club is just to learn more about the Wiccan religion and help others to understand it,” said Mumma. “I know some people think that it’s like the devil’s religion but it’s not. It’s about worshiping the earth and all it gives us.”

Mumma said that her goal for this club is to just reach out to other Wiccans/Pagans and to grow as one in the religion, especially on Landmark’s campus.

Club leaders emphasized that they will not be trying to push Wicca on anyone. They mostly are working to help those who are Wiccan, or who want to learn more about it, to gain insight and get to know others who do practice Wicca.

The first meeting of the “students of the craft” showed a turn-out of six students who were either already practicing or wanted to learn more in depth of the Wiccan religion. The meeting for the ghost hunters had close to the same turn-out. Participants already have a running joke of “whatever floats your goat”—first said by Mumma, then turned into a joke for the club.

Many people do question Wicca, and say it is all black magic and only spells that can make people bend to their will. I can say for this club it is not true. Most Wiccan’s believe that spells (if they are done) can only be done to benefit others and if the other party consents to it.

They believe that you should only put out into the universe what you want to get back, and any energy you put out will come back to you three-fold.