Russian Club Faces Erasure Amid COVID Dormancy

By Nolan Cleary, Managing Editor

When it comes to clubs at Hudson Valley Community College, they’re the new kids on the block. If you’re looking for a club at Hudson Valley that celebrates a variety of foreign foods, flavors and cuisines, chances are the Russian Club is a safe bet for you. 

The concept of the Russian Club is simple: the club goes to a variety of restaurants in Troy, New York and tastes multiple different foods from all around the area. The goal of the Russian Club is to expose students to a large array of cultures, by going to restaurants that serve foreign food from multiple different countries. 

Nikita Padunin is the current President of the Russian Club. Padunin, himself is an immigrant from Uzbekistan, and is fluent in Russian. Padunin was a part of the Student Senate during the Spring 2020 semester at Hudson Valley when he learned about a previous Russian club that existed on campus. 

Padunin contacted Natasha Anthony, an Associate English Professor about restarting the club. Anthony eventually became club advisor. 

“I talked to [Anthony] about re-starting the club. She emailed two other people who she knew might be interested, and we gathered.” Padunin told us. 

According to Padunin, students have learned more about Russia because of the club. “We gather students who are interested in Russian culture and talk about it. Currently, we have people who are interested in Russian’s economics.  They were surprised to find out that you can literally live in Russia for $500 that you can receive from social security here.” Padunin told us. 

Additionally, Padunin also tells us the club helped him learn more about Americans. “Americans in my view are too nice, naive and friendly. I am coming from a different culture, therefore, I can explain to people that life is different outside of states.” He told us. 

Padunin also reflected on his experience as a Student Senator, and the President of the Russian Club. “It is very interesting that the Student Senate is mostly run by the transfer students from other countries. It really feels like foreigners are controlling HVCC’s politics.” Padunin said. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic however, the future of the Russian Club could very well be on the line. Student activities cancelled one of the club’s upcoming trips back in March at the height of the pandemic. Tighter restrictions on restaurants means fewer students can go. Right now, the club’s status appears dormant. 

“We cannot go to any of the restaurants and we cannot eat on campus so we’re not doing anything, so the club is on hold right now.” Padunin tells us. Lower enrollment at Hudson Valley has also taken its toll on the club according to Padunin. 

“It’s really hard to get new members because there are no students on campus.” Padunin told us. While many are optimistic the club could be making a shining return soon, Padunin fears the worst. 

“I really think we’re not going to get it back simply because Hudson Valley has already announced that there will be online classes next semester and I’ll be graduating at the end of next semester so I really don’t think Russian club is going to be revived.”

Still, Padunin says he’s grateful for the diverse environment Russian club brought to campus. “We would like people to know that Russia is not full of Russians. Russia is like America, a very diverse country.  There are Turks, Uzbeks, Tajiks,  Kazakhs, Chuvash and etc. Therefore, Russian culture also consists of traditions from many other southern countries.” Padunin said.