By: Gina Carfagno

Inspiring Deaf Education and Awareness at Xavier (IDEA@X) is a club dedicated to educating Xavier students about deaf culture.

“Our goals are to bring some events for the deaf to Xavier’s campus to educate our students about the language and culture, and create a relationship with the deaf community,” club PR Manager Karlie Wurm said.

“We also want to create a fun atmosphere for all of us who love American Sign Language (ASL) to come together and go to events out in the community and learn together,” Wurm said.

IDEA@X began last year and has ra pidly grown since. So far this year, the club went on a silent camping trip with Deaf ASL instructor Al Nsumbu at Miami Whitewater Park. The group played sign language games and enjoyed camping.

The club carpools and attends local silent dinners hosted at local malls the first Friday of each month.

As the end of the semester draws closer, IDEA@X will host two events. Famous ASL comedian Keith Wann will perform two shows in sign language with a certified interpreter there for those who are not as adept at sign.

Keith Wann is a child of a deaf adult (commonly referred to as a CODA), but is hearing. ASL is his first language.

There is a PG-rated show at 4 p.m. and an R-rated show at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16.

Tickets are $10 and students are welcome to attend a silent dinner in between shows for an additional $5.

The silent dinner will be a meal

held completely in sign and will include many members of the Deaf community.

IDEA@X is also hosting a Christmas party to help ease stress before finals week and help prepare for ASL finals. The date for the event is to be determined.

IDEA@X will have a Currito fundraiser in December, as well as another in the spring. The profits will go towards a deaf school in Nsumbu.

IDEA@X works closely with the new Deaf Studies minor, which has 63 declared students.

The club and minor share an advisor, Michele Bailes, who helps the club reach out to the deaf community, come up with fundraising ideas and helps with other needs of the club.

The club meets biweekly, in order to accommodate the busy schedules of the members. The meetings are at 3 p.m. every Monday and at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays in Smith G23.

To get involved attend a meeting, find the club on Facebook by adding Idea Xavier as a friend or email harmanr1@xavier.edu.