Feel like you’re on your phone too often? So did Emma Baumanis, Management ‘26. Like many of us, she wasn’t sure what to do about it.

“I was absolutely spending too much time online. I was given access to technology at a very early age, and ended up preferring to stay inside in front of a screen. This intensified in middle school when I joined social media, and I began playing the comparison game, which really affected my self-confidence. But I didn’t even recognize all this as a problem until I got to college.”

Even though the problem became obvious, the solution wasn’t. Baumanis reasoned that if she spent less time online, she would miss out on what her friends and others were doing or planning.

Then she watched the documentary “The Social Dilemma.”

“Throughout it, I kept thinking, ‘Everyone seems to know that social media and being online excessively isn’t helpful, but we all still use it because everyone else is using it,’” Baumanis said. “I remember sitting in the living room with my brother and wondering, ‘Why isn’t there a place or organization that gives people the freedom and encouragement to be off their phones for a bit?’ That’s when the idea hit me. And just like that, the Offline Club was born!”

What started as a simple idea - to encourage fellow Captains to put down their phones for a few hours weekly - has evolved into a thriving student organization built on real-life connections. More than 80 students signed up in the first semester. Meetings are held every Friday afternoon. You can find club details posted on - well - social media.

“For marketing, we use GroupMe, Instagram, our Offline Club email, and flyers placed around campus. But a surprising part of our growth has come from more natural, in-the-moment interactions,” Baumanis said. “I will run into someone on campus, mention that I am heading to a meeting, and invite them to come along. That kind of genuine, in-the-moment invitation ends up being a powerful way we bring people in because it already reflects the kind of connection they will experience when they get there.

“The goal of the Offline Club is pretty simple - to create a space where students can disconnect from their screens and build meaningful, face-to-face connections. I like to think of it as a large, welcoming friend group. Our meetings are simple and relaxed; we usually start with announcements, then transition into fun things that encourage interaction and community building. But every meeting is incredibly different!” said Baumanis. “We hang out on the Great Lawn, or hit the nearby Noland Trail for walks. We’re all about trying new things. One week, we might have a simple board game event and the week after we might go to the beach. It varies, but we make sure each event is fun and welcoming.”

Baumanis says she hopes new Captains as well as upperclassmen will check the group out if they feel like they’ve been missing out on true connections and want to be more present in the world around them.

“We are a genuine friend group that is welcoming, energetic, and full of people who are actually excited to meet each other. We host fun, diverse events, from relaxing lounge gatherings to outdoor adventures. Once you come to one event, it’s really easy to see why people keep coming back,” said Baumanis.

“Although I have not fully cut off social media myself, my quantity and quality of friendships have improved, and my quality of life has too. And yes, so has my screen time. I have found a deeper love for reading, the arts, and outdoor adventures just by being in this club,” she said. “I am so proud of the amazing accomplishments Offline Club has made in just one year, and I am incredibly honored to have a CNU legacy that focused on bringing people together and making the campus, and maybe even the world, a better place.”