io JNBC Life

Campus clubs: the lifeblood of the university

Kelley Ware
Multimedia Coordinator

here is more to university than just
going to class.

Some may think that the only significant
thing to come out of the university
experience is a degree. For them, UNBC
is only about classes, assignments, and a
piece of paper at the end. It is easy to get
caught up in that kind of thinking. After
all, we all pay to be here to go to class and
get that coveted piece of paper. However,
if that is all a student does during their
degree, they are sadly missing out on a
truly engaging aspect of campus life.

“UNBC Clubs are

to finding friends

as eHarmony is to
finding dates.”

Clubs are organizations that have many
important contributions to make to
student life. Involvement in clubs provides
essential extra-curricular activities that
are vital for future opportunities. They
help create bonds that will provide
friendship and navigation through a
degree. Clubs are the foundation of

the student community on campus.

“UNBC Clubs are to finding friends as
eHarmony is to finding dates,” Seth

Jex of the Political Science Student
Association writes. “Being a part of a club
is more than just having fun and meeting
great people, it’s also about fostering

a sense of community and creating

a network of dedicated and engaged
students. Clubs are an integral part of
the community that is the university.”

Many students involved with clubs, such
as Bill Clyne of the Nerdy Gaming Club,
speak fondly of the enjoyment clubs

can bring as well as their therapeutic
effects. “Clubs are a great way to meet
likeminded people, have some fun, and
build connections on campus in a more
relaxed environment,” said Clyne. “Having
an opportunity with a busy schedule to
meet with people regularly and have
some fun is a good stress release that
builds the university experience.”

Clubs give students an opportunity to
do things they may otherwise not have
done or thought to do before. Some
clubs encourage volunteering and social
activism, while others encourage
members to perform in front of crowds.

Morgan McLean of the Musical Club
and A-Capella club thoroughly enjoys
the rush of performing that has come
with her involvement. “For me, [clubs]
have been some of the best experiences
I’ve had at university. Clubs are a great
place to meet people who are interested
in the same sort of stuff, and for me

the weekly meetings are just time to
just go and hang out with my new
friends,” writes McLean. “Then at the
end, when you get to perform and show
everyone what you’ve been working so
hard at... It’s just a fabulous experience.
I would definitely encourage people

to join clubs, I’ve found them to be
incredibly enriching and rewarding.”

While some new students may initially
be reluctant to join with the mindset
that they should wait until they are
thoroughly used to university life first,
there are many things that clubs can
teach new students. Campus clubs are
opportunities for younger students to

meet with older, likeminded students

in a casual environment. These older
students may have taken the same classes,
and have advice for new students to

make university an easier experience.
Many students involved with clubs

often regret not having joined earlier.

“One of my biggest regrets as a first year
student at UNBC was my hesitation to

get involved in clubs on campus”, writes
Megan Parisotto, the current president

of the International Studies Student
Association (ISSA).“Like many first years, I
was a little shy and was just trying to figure
out how to handle five courses and living
away from home... there didn’t seem to be
time for anything else! Luckily, in
second year I got a little
more courageous

decided to join the (ISSA) and the Political
Science Student Association (PSSA). My
time with these clubs over the past two
years has been incredibly rewarding. Club
involvement is more than just a good
addition to a resume - it has allowed

me to build some great friendships, and
really engage in the unique, close-knit
community we have here at UNBC.”

For students looking to find clubs
to connect to, Clubs Days will be
hosted at the university on
September 4 and 5.