Underrated when it comes to Skidmore clubs, HIPS and Bare are often mistaken for each other. But if not, there is this assumed competition between the groups. If they’re supposedly the same, or one is substantially “better” than the other, why offer both on campus? Before ousting either group, I thought it to be wise to get a better understanding of each club’s role on campus.
Elodie Keating ‘21, has been an e-board member for Bare from the second semester of her sophomore year, and describes the concept of Bare as a “sex positivity, gender, love, intimacy discussion” club.
Keating made clear that facilitating a positive conversation around taboo topics is what encouraged her advanced involvement. She started attending Bare meetings the first semester of her freshman year, after her persuasive SCOOP PA, Kathy Jo '20, convinced her that the club meetings would be a worthwhile experience.
Being a gender studies major, Keating complied and soon grew attached to the inclusive, lighthearted community. Candidly, she admitted to feeling “virginal” or a part of an “out” group prior to attending her first meeting. However, after an introductory meeting, Keating had weaved her way into the Bare community without feeling the least bit inferior to the preexisting members.
“I just think it’s fun, it makes me feel good, it makes me feel more confident. I leave feeling stronger and more powerful,” being personal reasons Keating gives for continuing her involvement in Bare. Keating addressed my personal reservations about Bare and assured me that one’s sexual experience, sexual orientation, and gender identity are irrelevant when participating in club discussions. She asks Skidmore students interested in Bare to come with a certain level of respect for their peers, a listening ear, and with the absence of any bias.
As for HIPS (Health, Image, Power, Success), Parker Heuer ‘21, an Environmental Studies major, joined the club in the first semester of her freshman year and was quickly elected to the e-board in the spring semester of that same year. Heuer describes HIPS as a “discussion-based club about the body and the self.” She says that the HIPS e-board is attempting to put less of a focus on the physical body in club discussion – what they are calling an aspect of “self” — recognizing that one’s self-esteem is not solely reliant on views of their physical body.
Heuer initially joined HIPS because she was in search of a forum where she had the opportunity to discuss her ever-changing insecurities surrounding her image, healthily. She describes the environment as inclusive of all body types and aims to put a humorous “spin” on inevitable self-deprecation; serving as a platform exclusively for the discussion of the human form that wouldn’t necessarily exist otherwise.
Heuer is proud to admit that since joining HIPS she has been quicker to interject when overhearing self-deprecating comments and has made a conscious effort to improve her word choice when talking about her body. Similar to Bare, all Skidmore students with morally sound intentions are encouraged to join HIPS. The club currently is solely comprised of female-identifying members but welcomes individuals regardless of gender identity and is interested in hearing from a more diverse grouping in future meetings.
So, can we finally answer answer our initial question adequately: “are HIPS and Bare the same?” HIPS and Bare objectively want to create a community-based forum to discuss sensitive subjects. Even so, HIPS and Bare attract different individuals based on the conversations had during club discussion. Yes, they have similar intentions. No, they do not cover the same information during discussions. Yes, they are both deserving of campus-wide recognition.
HIPS meet at 8 pm on Thursdays and Bare meets on Wednesdays at 9 pm if you have any interest in speaking with Heuer or Keating and participating in club discussion.