Students in Cal Poly’s new furry club are aiming to create a safe space for students interested in the furry community.
After many years of being an unofficial group for Cal Poly students and alumni, students decided to register the club with the university, according to Trev, a co-president of the club.
Trev and a dozen other students enjoy dressing up in big, furry costumes to express themselves and their creativity. Since Trev’s freshman year at Cal Poly, the group has grown to a dozen people.
“We’re just here to have fun and to be creative,” Trev said. “A lot of people really love it. The actual people that are in person usually have a positive response. People think it’s funny or people think it’s entertaining. People think it’s cute and fun.”
Furries are people who identify with and enjoy sometimes dressing as an animal or creature, according to Merriam Webster. UC Berkeley’s club, which has been a club since early 2023, inspired Cal Poly’s furry club.
Furry Exposure Therapy
People have posted photos of the group online and given the members negative interactions, according to Two, the club’s vice president.
“I get my picture randomly taken from like a distance sometimes and people put it on Reddit,” Two said. “The comments are kind of horrendous on those. I think people online definitely hide behind a screen. For actual interactions I’ve had with people on campus, everyone’s been super friendly and super welcoming.”
After showcasing the club at the club fair last month, Two says she feels much more comfortable “fursuiting” around campus.
“It’s kind of like exposure therapy,” Two said. “People get upset the first couple of times, but it gets better the more people are exposed to it. Honestly, a lot of people who weren’t even furries or interested in the fandom came up to us during the club fair just to ask questions about what we’re doing and if they can pet the costumes.”
Two and Trev both say that a lot of people ask to take a picture with them in their costumes or to get a hug. They hope that the club continues to grow and remains a safe space for all students.
“I hope to keep finding more people, ” Trev said. “The reality is there’s always going to be some furries out there. With every single incoming class, there’s going to be more of them.”
Mustang News has anonymized names to protect students quoted in this article based on a history of adverse behavior towards the community.