Katie Moorhead

Special interest clubs are an outlet for students to get out of their study mindset and maintain hobbies or participate in social activities that may not specifically pertain to their major. Hogwarts Hounds and Loyola Swiftie Society are two of these special interest clubs, allowing students a break from their academic lives to focus on the things they resonate with the most. 

Erin Altenbach ‘26 is the president of Hogwarts Hounds, a club for those fascinated by the Harry Potter series. At club meetings, members gather to watch Harry Potter movies, participate in crafts such as door banners, and socialize around everything related to Harry Potter. Altenbach says she started the club with a former Campus Ministry co-worker, Chahat Kumari ‘25, last year because they wanted to do something fun. 

“We just wanted a ‘come as you are’ kind of club… the only prerequisite is to like the vibes of Harry Potter or the event we have going on. You don’t have to have read the books or watched the movies or anything,” Altenbach said.

The Loyola Swiftie Society, a student-run organization dedicated to all things Taylor Swift, has become a welcoming space where students from all class years and majors can bond over music, crafts, and shared fandom. They recently held a lively album release party in early October celebrating Swift’s newest album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl.’ Between decorating showgirl headpieces or sunglasses, playing trivia games, and taking Polaroid photos, the event gave students a chance to connect, get creative, and enjoy the music together.

Emily Doyle ‘26, a club officer for Loyola Swiftie Society, shared why the club was founded.

“We all bonded over Taylor and wanted a place to meet other Swifties. We wanted something chill and very low commitment,” Doyle said. 

Attendees at Loyola Swiftie Society’s album release party also did hair tinseling and stuck on face gems while enjoying orange-colored snacks to match the album’s theme. The event included a mix of creativity, music, and community, which perfectly captured the club’s vibe. 

“People were able to take Polaroid pictures, make tote bags, and play trivia games while Taylor Swift’s new album played in the background. It was such a fun, creative way to experience the new album together,” Doyle said.

Hogwarts Hounds Vice President Courtney Vancura ‘26 thinks that being a student is important, but that the college experience is supposed to make a more well-rounded person. She believes it is crucial to pursue interests outside of academics. 

“Being in a space where we have one thing in common… it’s just a lot of fun, and it takes me away from academics and stuff like that for a bit,” Vancura said.

Loyola has approximately 150 student-led clubs and organizations on campus, and 37% of these clubs align with academic and professional interests. Altenabach said she would like to see more clubs on campus that prioritize fun over professional development.

“There are a lot of academic clubs, and those are great and everything, but at the same time I don’t feel like Loyola has a significant amount of special interest clubs,” Altenbach said. 

For both Doyle and Loyola Swiftie Society Lead Officer Deidre Stone ‘26, the heart of the Loyola Swiftie Society lies in the friendships and connections that form during these events. 

The leaders of both Hogwarts Hounds and Loyola Swiftie Society plan to grow and hope to inspire future students after they graduate. Officers of the two clubs even plan for a potential collaboration between them in the future. 

“I hope [Loyola Swiftie Society] stays. People seem to enjoy themselves and like coming to our events. I want underclassmen to keep it going,” Doyle said.