College students may find enjoyment with involvement on campus, and student involvement usually expands beyond the strictness of an academic environment making the community surrounding the university much more comfortable. Things like hobbies and interests with a mutual place to practice and enjoy them can provide a much-needed break for academically rigorous minds. Organizations and clubs also provide skill development and opportunities for leadership to bring forth a well-rounded college graduate, ready for the workforce or for continuing education.
ISU recognizes the importance of expansive opportunity, and last week the university’s Week of Welcome included a special event that hosted all of the university’s clubs and organizations on the Quad for members of the Bengal community to visit and chat with. This was an opportunity for ISU’s student leaders and members of various clubs possessing many different interests to talk directly with their peers and recruit members. The Bengal was able to drop by and gather statements from just a few of the committed and proud members of our ISU student involvement community.
When asked what each of the organizations aimed to provide for ISU students and the greatest benefit to be had by membership and affiliation, we were able to gather quite a selection of welcoming statements from various club leaders. Courtney Lyman with the ISU PAC Rats said that their organization aims to provide students with “the opportunity to explore their spontaneous creativity.” The ISU PAC Rats is an improv group on campus expanding the theatrical art of improvisation to any and all that are interested. Lyman, who serves at the PAC Rats Public Outreach Coordinator continues to say “Improvisation can help people improve their quick thinking and communication skills.”
We then moved on over to the Sustainability Club’s booth, where acting President Eizaak Jordan explained that “we aim to give students opportunities to restore and engage with the natural world.” With the increasing challenges that the globe faces with climate change, this organization has piqued the interest of many students looking to create a positive environmental change. Jordan continues to say that “we are doing the environmental work that needs to be done to move our university into a green new world.”
We also got the chance to speak with representatives of the Sexuality and Gender Alliance organization, referred to most often as SAGA. SAGA is one of ISU’s LGBTQIA+ clubs, where they aim to “help bring allies and LGBTQ+ members together…in a safe, welcoming environment.”
We then wanted to see what words of advice club leaders had to give to their peers when it comes to getting involved on campus and staying active with organization membership, and they delivered some wise words for their fellow Bengals. Ruth Andrews, Vice President of the Ecology and Conservation Biology club, says “sometimes joining a club can be intimidating. Remember that everyone in that club wants you there and the officers will help you feel comfortable in any way they can.”
Farhana Hibbert, President of the ISU College Republicans summarized our interviews best when she said “join what you are interested in! Jump right in and be involved!”
If you’re looking to get involved and you want more information on the clubs and organizations that are active on campus, you can visit [isu.edu/clubs/].
