After a long day of classes, students eagerly stopped by the Spring RSO Fair to explore various student organizations on Jan. 16.
The David L. Eisler Center ballrooms displayed 68 student organizations, each with a table. With these full rows, students walked around and learned what each organization was about.
Student organizations are a unique way for students to engage in extracurricular activities and express their interests. At the Spring RSO Fair, new clubs and long-standing clubs express themselves and their purposes as students walk by and explore what is available.
RSO Coordinator and Coordinator for the Center for Student Involvement Josh Olszewski gave his thoughts about student turnout.
“I think this is great, we’re seeing a lot of students. Specifically, now that classes are starting to get out,” Olszewski said. “I saw one of our student orgs had a whole eight-and-a-half by 11 sheet of paper filled with names of people who signed up to learn more about the org. So very pleased with the turnout.”
Clubs, fraternities, sororities, sports clubs, academic clubs, and special interests were all featured. With students coming and going, these RSOs faced plenty of foot traffic, which would gain them more names on their sign-up lists. While many of the long-standing RSOs got to demonstrate their goals and purposes, new RSOs like the pickleball club made their first appearance.
Computer information systems junior Joe Marvin, president of the pickleball club, formed the group after interest in the sport grew.
“Well there were a lot of people showing up to intramurals and just word of mouth of people are expressing interest, so we decided to put it together,” Marvin said.
The pickleball club is the newest RSO on campus, created over winter break. Pickleball has grown in popularity among the students, as the table had many people signing up for the RSO.
In addition to the usual fraternities and sororities, some RSOs offer sports like basketball, whereas others are tailored toward a specific set of students or majors.
Social work junior Syd Richardson, president of the Social Work Association, provided information about the club and its purpose.
“The Social Work Association is dedicated to bringing together all people but especially social work majors to get involved on campus and in the greater Big Rapids Community for service projects and awareness events,” Richardson said. “Social work is dedicated to serving people and doing social justice and working with integrity and values. So we really want to serve the greater good, and help anybody who needs it.”
Richardson then discussed how the Social Work Association has been on campus since the early 2000s. He later described how much the association has grown despite not having many members during COVID-19. Their goal as a club is to get as many people as possible involved and do some awareness events.
Students naturally feel drawn to an RSO based on their interests or major. As the day continued, students were asked why they had signed up for the RSOs they had chosen.
Nursing freshman Leya St. John signed up for the Ferris Student Nurses Association for an extra community feel.
“Well I’m a nursing major and it looks interesting and I need the help,” St. John said. “I like having the community and having the help that I need and just being educated with other people’s education.”
While students like St. John see an opportunity for experience in their major, other students seek out community within the RSOs they choose.
Welding junior Aron Romero signed up for the First-Gen. This club allows first-generation college students resources and helps them navigate the college environment.
“It resonates with me with being a first gen student,” Romero said. “Opportunities, connect with people with similar experiences and coming from the same background and being first-gen students.”
For more information about RSOs, visit the Registered Student Organization in the Center for Student Involvement page on the Ferris360 website or visit the Center for Student Involvement located in the David L. Eisler Center.