The Persian community is strong in the Bay Area, and it is strong on De Anza Campus.

According to the De Anza College fall club brochure, the Club of Iran has aimed to “share the achievements of Iranian scientists, artists, and philosophers with the community, and illustrate Iran’s role in the international arena as an ancient civilization in the new millenium.”

Late last spring, about 30 members separated from the Club of Iran and formed another club for the Persian community called Iran Zamin, which literally translates into land of Iran or Iran as a whole. Iran Zamin has an agenda similar to Club of Iran, even though the new club’s brochure description emphasizes Iranian culture, languages, and further specifies that the club is open to all interested students who want to learn more through “fun yet educational activities.”

If the clubs seem so similar in ideology, why is it that we have two Persian clubs instead of one all embracing, all including organization?

When asked about his discrepancy on the Club Day, Mohammad R. Akbari and Parviz Deyhim said they did not know why fellow Persians split and went on to start their own club.

Haleh and Farzad, members of Iran Zamin, said their old club took an unexpected and unwelcomed turn. The club became “more religious than most members liked it to be,” which is why they split. While members of Iran Zamin expressed no resentment for splitting, members of the original club said that the split is “too bad, a real pity.”

According to a recent conversation with members of Club of Iran, the two clubs have moved closer together again and will have a shared table at the next club day.

As for a possible reunion, Mohammad R. Abkari said it’s unlikely, because “we still have some differences, even though we do the same activities. It’s complicated. You’d have to be part of the club to understand everything involved.”