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Student groups vary on campus
BY ANNE DAVIS
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
For many, college is a time for concocting social stews and networking with an eye to the future. To help students meet people with similar interests, our University has numerous student lead organization
options.
These groups are created by students to satisfy the universal need for camaraderie while striving to achieve goals associated with common interests.
To start a student group/club at UMD, there are a few requirements that need to be met. Christina Geissler, UMD’s student’s activities advisor, laid out the steps to begin a club at UMD.
“You first need four full time UMD students,” said Geissler. “These students will be the initial officers. They must attend a registration session at which the nuts and bolts of the university in terms of student organizations are covered.”
These clubs attend to an enormous
array of interests including religion, language, politics, sports, hobbies, educational endeavors and community service.
While some groups have prerequisites for admission, most are open to all interested students. Geissler also mentioned unique clubs at UMD including the Kubb Klub; devoted to a semi-obscure lawn game and the Dungeons and Dragons club for D and D enthusiasts.
Some other clubs that are different from the everyday norm are: the Knit Wits, a knitting club, and the College Aviators, for students with an interest in skydiving and flying.
According to Geissler, the most active clubs on campus are religiously or politically affiliated.
“We have an upwards of 100 members,” said senior Brian Lederer, a member of Newman Catholic Campus Ministry. “We have bible study and retreats. Something is usually going on everyday.”
Along with religious groups, there are groups that receive student service fees. The Kirby Program Board, and Access For All, are among the clubs that receive these fees.
Student service fees are collected from all students, according to the financial aid and registrar. Due to the fact that some particular clubs are given portions of student service fees, they are required to put on projects that benefit the students.
One club that runs off of student service fee is the Queer and Allied Student Union (QASU), was highly recommended by current member, Tracy Mills, a senior secondary education major. “We are open to all, we have lots of fun and all the people are awesome. [Joining a student organization is] a great way to meet people.”
While some organizations, such as the QASU, aim to ease social bonding, others, such as the UMD Sustainability Coalition (UMDSC) address a specific need.
“Surveys of the student population in fall 2006 showed that approximately 95 percent of students are aware of the need for increased attention to sustainable energy practices on campus,” said sophomore and founding member of UMDSC, Matthew Pendleton.
This group is in the process of applying for student service fee funding to hire a sustainability coordinator. This club recently branched off from UMD’s branch of the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) a highly active political and social action group.
UMD also provides opportunity for those interested in Greek Life which consists of both fraternities and sororities. Such groups emphasize the value of service and friendship.
“Beta Lambda Psi helps members to get involved, volunteer and network,” said Kjirsten Goran, president of Beta Lambda Psi. UMD students have a vast array of possible groups to choose from. Whatever your interests, it is relatively simple to find a corresponding group or create your own. If you can’t find one of the 190 groups to suit you needs, you can always start your own.
