UCSD - University of California - San Diego

04/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2026 09:23

When Silence Speaks Volumes: UC San Diego’s ASL Club

Published Date

April 30, 2026

Article Content

From eating cheese to hitting high notes, there are hundreds of organizations that students can get involved with at UC San Diego. In this ongoing series, we shine a light on a few of them. See who's in the spotlight this time.

What's the third most commonly used language in the United States? If your answer is sign language you are correct! American Sign Language utilizes hand signs, facial expressions and body movements to communicate, primarily by communities that are deaf and hard of hearing.

According to the Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, "more than a half-million people throughout the U.S. use American Sign Language to communicate as their native language."

UC San Diego's ASL Club is a community of ASL users that range from learners to experts. Composed of members that mainly communicate using ASL as well as students who simply want to learn more, the club offers an environment open to anyone connected to the language.

Language is retained best when practiced extensively and the ASL Club provides the perfect opportunity for those looking to learn the language and those looking to retain their fluency.

Talisa Lin speaks at an Enhancing Cultural Healthcare Outreach (ECHO) Club event where she and other members of the ASL Club shared tips on signing to ECHO Club members. (Photo courtesy of ASL Club)

Co-President of the ASL Club, Talisa Lin, who graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt College this winter with a major in anthropology and a concentration in climate change and human solutions alongside a minor in ASL, explains, "When you are learning about ASL there is an innate responsibility to learn about Deaf culture." Lin is a child of a deaf adult, more commonly known as a CODA, which she says allows her to share a unique perspective on ASL.

"As a CODA, culturally, you are exposed to two different, beautiful communities," Lin says, "Being able to grow and exist in-between different cultures can be difficult, but we have a community where you can meet other CODAs that have their own experiences."

Fellow co-President of the ASL Club, Selena Townshend is a 3rd-year student at Thurgood Marshall College majoring in linguistics speech and language sciences with a minor in education studies. She is also a CODA. Townshend says: "Our goal is to create a safe space for new and existing signers to expand their knowledge of ASL and Deaf culture and connect with other students that seek to advance in the language and understanding of the culture."

With weekly meetings, social events, activities off-campus, and more, the ASL Club strives to educate and integrate ASL into the larger UC San Diego community.

Background of the ASL Club

The ASL Club was founded in 2021 and includes students who are passionate about learning ASL. Secretary of the ASL Club, Kate Jepson, a 3rd-year double major in sociocultural anthropology and communications with a minor in ASL at Eleanor Roosevelt College, details her introduction to the club. Coming to college with an interest in ASL and taking it as a language requirement, Jepson realized, "there's not a lot of ASL resources online, unlike other languages." In joining the ASL Club, Jepson says, "it's a completely different way of learning something and teaching yourself to use the language to its full potential."

How to be involved with the ASL Club

With a keen interest in garnering attention for ASL, the club plans to focus on beginner-friendly events going forward to make ASL more accessible to students. The club is also setting up community events in order to provide the best experience for all ASL learners to develop their skills.

By also maintaining traditions such as poetry and hand painting night as well as upcoming events like a museum day at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, the ASL Club reminds everyone of the diversity that exists on UC San Diego's campus. And in addition, that ASL "is an incredibly handy language," says Lin.

Club organizers invite those interested in learning more about ASL or the club to follow their instagram @aslclubatucsd or discord ASLClub.UCSD for further information.

Hand painting night, fall 2025 (Photo Courtesy of ASL Club)
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