One of the most exclusive clubs on campus thinks it has what it takes to be this year’s club of the year.
Dixie State University’s X-Club has been around since 1939 and serves as an all-male service club. It’s capped at 15 members.
X-Club President Eric Gubler, a junior sports science major from Santa Clara, said keeping the club small makes it easier to perform service projects.
“If you have a select few of the most prestigious guys on campus, you can get a lot done,” Gubler said.
By “prestigious,” Gubler said the club looks for men on campus who are involved in as many DSU activities as possible. In addition to having Dixie spirit, a GPA of 3.0 and full-time enrollment status is required. Students who try out for the club need to write a short essay about why they deserve to be on the club and participate in an interview.
James Kerner, a junior English major from Logan, said “prestigious” refers the club members’ willingness to serve.
“All of [X-Club’s members] have a strong desire to give back to the school and community,” Kerner said.
Some service projects the X-Club has been involved in are the Campus to Community events, picking up trash on local trails, and Bowl for Kids’ Sake through Big Brothers Big Sisters, which the club donated $1,000 to last year. In addition to these service projects, members of the X-Club go to sporting events and maintain the “D” on the hill by picking weeds around it, repairing any burned-out lights, and lighting it up for Homecoming Week.
Daxton Dubach, a junior communication major from South Jordan, said being involved in many service activities helps build school pride.
“It’s a way to give back to the school, and, at the same time, you find life-long friendships within a parameter you feel safe in,” Dubach said.
Gubler said being a part of the X-Club isn’t about the glory or the fame.
“It’s a totally different mentality than fraternities,” Gubler said. “It’s a lot of work. It’s a commitment, and it’s just a group of friends wanting to do good things and give back to the community.”
Title IX, the act that doesn’t allow for discrimination on the basis of sex at federally-funded institutions, has slightly affected the club’s operations. If a woman wants to apply for X-Club, she has to be given a fair shot against her male peers.
Gubler said since the X-Club has been an all-male club for so long, most women wouldn’t want to try out for it anyway.
“I have to be careful that I allow them a fair shot,” he said. “If a girl wants to do it, she has to shine. I’m not going to accept her just because she’s a girl. I’ve turned away lots of guys, so it’s not a sexist thing.”
The X-Club is conducting interviews next week for students interested in becoming members. Gubler said many student body presidents and notable alumni like Jeffrey R. Holland, Denny Drake, Thomas Judd and Dan McArthur have been members of the X-Club.
Members can be involved in one of three branches: spirit, service or traditions. Gubler said he looks for the best, most active individuals on campus who have the most Dixie spirit.
“[The X-Club] has really changed my mindset to where I love Dixie, where, before, it was just a place where I was going to get my degree,” he said.
