Before the semester began, students gathered at Cassel Theatre for Club Craze, which showcased 27 student organizations and eight Greek groups.
Student organizations have long been a tradition on college campuses. From sand volleyball tournaments to salsa dancing, these groups allow students to come together and create the community they desire. At Doane, student organizations encompass honor societies, Greek groups, student media and clubs including game development, Bible studies, pool tournaments and wellness.
Junior Connie Jarm joined the Asian and Pacific Islander Organization (APIO) last year to make new friends. This year, she serves as the club's treasurer. “What I’m looking forward to this year is meeting new members and having new activities,” Jarm said. “Hopefully, people will learn about the culture we have at Doane.”
Jaren Jackson, the Vice President of the Black Student Association (BSA), balances his commitments to student organizations with his wrestling schedule. “I joined BSA and APIO mostly because I wanted to be part of something outside my sport, and I am most excited for the wrestling season and the BSA events I’m helping to run,” Jackson said.
Jarm was born and raised in New Zealand before moving to the United States in high school to pursue a collegiate golfing career. Her mother is from China. Joining APIO has allowed Jarm to reconnect with both her parents' cultures, which she showcased at Tigerama this past spring. Tigerama is Doane’s multicultural fair where students create poster boards and activities to demonstrate their cultures. APIO hosts Tigerama in collaboration with the Doane University Latino Student Association (DULSA) and BSA.
Leadership in student organizations isn't limited to juniors. Sophomore Emma Schule recently took over as president of Active Minds while balancing several other responsibilities, including band, choir, Chi Delta Sorority, the Kindness Project, Tiger Peer Mentoring and the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. “Joining student organizations has benefited me by bringing me out of my shell,” Schule said. As president of Active Minds, she looks forward to meeting more people and spreading the organization's message.
However, juggling all those organizations can be challenging. Schule admitted that she had to drop the organization she was least committed to in order to fully dedicate herself to her other roles. “I occasionally struggle to balance all of my involvements, but I cope with burnout or stress from these activities by crafting, doing something relaxing to me or hanging out with friends,” said Schule.
Jarm noted balancing student organizations with a busy athletic schedule is “a bit of a struggle.” “You might forget to do something. I’m not the only one in the leadership team who struggles with that,” Jarm shared. With the beginning of the golf season, she worries about missing meetings while travelling for tournaments.
Despite this, both students encourage freshmen to join student organizations. Schule advises incoming freshmen to just “do it.” “Try different things out; you can always stop at any time. It is a great way to meet new people, and you get to do the things you love and gain great experiences,” Schule said. “I think having and being in a student organization is important because it is what makes Doane special.”
