New “Furry” Club Approved at SUNY Plattsburgh

A student government at a New York university has recently approved a new “furry” club, adding to a trend of similar groups emerging at colleges nationwide.

The furry fandom is a unique subculture where individuals enjoy expressing themselves through anthropomorphic animal characters. It includes a diverse array of fans, artists, writers, gamers, and role-players. According to a research project on anthropomorphism, over 75% of people in this community are under 25 years old, and nearly 60% of them are college students.

The State University of New York (SUNY) Plattsburgh’s Student Association announced that the new club, named Plattsfur, was approved as a temporary student organization with an 11-1 vote on November 16.

Reports indicate that furry student groups have become increasingly popular, with various universities starting clubs reflecting this growing interest among students.

Plattsfur is designed to be a welcoming space for furries to collaborate and create content around shared interests. Currently, it has 17 members. As Styx Williams, a junior studying anthropology, mentioned, the club aims to facilitate social discussions and incorporate elements of crafting and art. He noted that the idea originated with a small group of friends who realized they shared a common interest in being furries, after which they found many others on campus interested in forming a club.

Since its approval, Plattsfur has conducted coloring page meetups and campfire gatherings for students.

In the last couple of years, several universities in the U.S. have established furry clubs, such as the Maverick Furry Club at Minnesota State University and clubs at California Polytechnic State University and California State University, Northridge.

A broader network, Triton Tales, connects furry groups across universities, indicating there are over 100 university chapters globally.

As of now, SUNY Plattsburgh has not provided any comments regarding this new club.