The High Stakes Club will have its first meeting on Sunday, Feb. 16. The initial meeting will serve as an experience to gauge interest and determine who can participate. The event will take place in the Frees Hall basement.
The club’s president is DaMarcus Cannon, a freshman involved in football and track. The vice president is freshman Brayden Pridemore, the treasurer is sophomore Sam Hartman and the secretary is Junior Josh Fee. Junior Rian Green serves as the membership chair, while the club advisor is Luke Urbonavicius, who also works as the community director for Frees Hall.
Cannon explained that the process of starting the club was more complex than simply coming up with the idea. He had to draft a constitution, present it to the student council for approval and secure a budget. Despite the challenges, he enjoyed the process.
About two weeks ago, Cannon played poker for the first time with some friends. As he spoke to more people, he realized that many students were interested in poker and pool, leading him to establish the club. The club is still determining whether members will be allowed to play with real money. According to Cannon, “We don’t want to promote gambling with this club, and it’s just something we still have to talk about.”
As of now, the club will work as a casual hangout where individuals “whether experienced or brand new can just have a good time.” However, tournaments and competitive teams may be a possibility in the future. If real money is not involved, the club may consider using prizes or a raffle ticket system as an alternative.
Cannon also added that if there are any disputes over a game, the way it will be handled is by communication. “We just have to communicate,” Cannon said. “We have to handle disagreements, pull people aside if necessary and hear from both sides, and plan that at least one officer is present at each table to keep the competition friendly.”
He encourages students to attend the first meeting, “I hope everyone can come out on Feb. 16. It should be a good time and a great way to connect with people who share similar interests. We’re planning on making this into something bigger,” Cannon said.
