Claire Herquet, Editor-In-Chief 

La Salle University’s Association for Architectural Computing Machinery (ACM) is officially back – and this time, it’s aiming to become one of the most active and curiosity-driven student organizations on campus.

After several quiet years, our chapter of ACM’s new executive board has relaunched the club with a mission to make computer science accessible, social, and fun for students across all majors. The group kicked off the semester with its first event on Tuesday, Sept 15: a gaming free period in Holroyd Hall featuring the game Death by AI, an interactive strategy game that had students laughing, focused, and bonding over the quirks and nuances of artificial intelligence.

This collaborative game had students and players try to outsmart fictional AI systems before they “take over” the scenario. Think: chaotic prompts and unexpected outcomes all powered by AI. For many attendees, it was their first time meeting other students interested in computing and coding. The event doubled as a mixer, giving students a chance to connect with ACM’s board, learn about upcoming events, and see what the club’s revival entails.

This semester, ACM is rolling out a new series of eight events, roughly one major get-together every two weeks. Programming, cybersecurity, mathematics and problem-solving, IT, career development and more will be only some of the topics covered by the organization this upcoming year.

Vice President of ACM, MyrrhJessica Okwara ‘28, had a few words to say as a leader of the chapter: “These professors truly have a passion for computer science over here in Holroyd. Being able to promote someone else’s passion that aligns with mine makes me feel a strong sense of serenity and confidence as a student. I hope in the production of this organization, we can allow students to experience computer science in a more fun and engaging way.”

Holroyd Room 151, the Mathematics & Computer Science Student Lab, is also getting a makeover. ACM hopes to transform it from a last-minute homework bunker into a space for experimentation, community and collaboration.

ACM’s revival is coming at a time when students across disciplines are increasingly interested in tech and AI – whether for career preparation, creative projects or curiosity. The organization’s leadership hopes ACM will continue to become a place for students who want to challenge themselves, meet new people, and be in a welcoming, educational environment.

La Salle’s chapter of ACM is open to all majors. Students can join by attending any ACM event, reaching out to their faculty advisors (Dr. Highley at highley@lasalle.edu and Dr. Wang at wang@lasalle.edu). Our chapter members also encourage students to follow ACM’s Instagram account, and explore the national ACM at acm.org.