• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
      Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
    • CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
      CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
    • WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
      WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
      Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
    • It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
      It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
    • What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
      What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • No image
      Pentimento’s Open Mic is Like an Old Patchwork Quilt–Worn, Yet Cozy
    • No image
      Kanye’s Antisemitism Steps on his Shoe Brand
    • Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
      Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • Student-Athlete of October
      Student-Athlete of October
    • Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
      Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
    • The Case for Body Neutrality
      The Case for Body Neutrality
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
      Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
    • Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
      Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
    • The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
      The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Jodi Wei Features, News and FeaturesOctober 1, 2019

Who the (WC)Heck are the Hydration Enthusiasts?

Photo Courtesy of Jodi Wei

When the idea for the Wellesley College Hydration Enthusiasts Club (WCHEC) was first conceived, even the founders would find the support the club would one day get hard to believe. But each Tuesday evening, nearly 20 ‘Hydration Enthusiasts’ gather in a KSC classroom to compare water bottles, debate the best campus water fountains and above all, talk about their shared passion: staying hydrated. 

Though the club has only been constituted since the spring, WCHEC’s backstory began nearly two years ago when a group of varsity student-athletes brought attention to a fast-approaching milestone: 100,000 water bottles filled at the first floor KSC water fountain. WCHEC’s publicity chair Clare Doyle ’20 published a Facebook event to drum up excitement around the campus about reaching the incredible milestone. When the tally read 99,999 bottles, Faye Washburn ’20 and Olivia Holbrook ’20, the org’s co-presidents, stood guard over the fountain, preventing any well-meaning hydration enthusiast from accidentally spoiling their big day. 

Later that day, on Nov. 4, 2017, it came time for the 100,000th water bottle to be filled. A crowd of 60 students gathered, surprising even the organizers of the event and 13 hands held the 100,000th water bottle to be filled — one hand representing each of the Wellesley varsity athletic teams. 

After the event, a smaller group gathered at brunch in Lulu, and the core behind WCHEC was born. They applied for constitution and two years later in spring 2019, the hydration enthusiasts became, officially, the Hydration Enthusiasts. 

“We couldn’t believe our eyes when we got constituted,” says Holbrook, a founding member and co-president of WCHEC. 

At their second meeting on Sept. 26, nearly 20 enthusiasts from all class years including recruits, gathered in the resting area near the famed water fountain. The group introduced themselves, going one after another sharing their names, class years, pronouns and their favorite water bottle. It seemed to come as no surprise to the Hydration Enthusiasts that the 2017-2018 Wellesley Athletics water bottle was a shared favorite amongst the group. 

The org has big plans this year.  Holbrook explained at the meeting that the e-board was hard at work trying to secure collaborations with different water-related companies. Co-president Washburn was spearheading an effort to collaborate with Halsey-Taylor, the company that has been providing stadiums, offices and college campuses just like Wellesley with drinking vestibules since 1912. Washburn’s progress report that week: “I have sent a number of emails that have all been bounced back.” Nevertheless she persists in emailing them. 

The group spent much of their meeting brainstorming ways to give back to the community, thinking of different merchandise fundraisers that could benefit clean water initiatives around the country. A goal for the organization, aside from having fun with those who share a passion for hydration, is to spread awareness about different water issues that parts of the world faces. Tessa Spillane, head crew coach and associate professor of the practice, is the org’s faculty advisor. She says that even though she is a new advisor, she is “really excited about this org and what they hope to accomplish.” 

The meeting ended with a toast to hydration, and the presidents dismissed the group to refill their water bottles at the drinking fountain. The total as of last Thursday stands at just under 140,000, and WCHEC hopes to see it reach 200,000 before the end of the year. 

The ultimate mission of WCHEC is to be a place for Wellesley students to relax and have fun with each other. Doyle, WCHEC’s publicity chair, says, “I think that WCHEC can be an example in a lot of ways to the Wellesley community. Wellesley students are all so driven and passionate about our goals, academics, career plans, extracurriculars, etc. WCHEC shows that there can — and should!  — be space on our campus for orgs and groups that just want to have fun and create a community for each other!” 

“Bottom line: if you’re a person looking for a community, looking for a lighthearted environment — please join us,” says Holbrook. WCHEC meets every other week on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. in the KSC classroom. 

 

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articlePresident’s Corner 10/01/2019
Next article“What about me, Wellesley?” Local 103 Accuses Wellesley of Discrimination due to Non-union Science Center Construction Contract

You may also like

Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”

CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure

WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top