New students may be surprised to know how much there is to do at the University.
Browsing through the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement’s Web site, students can find a list of more than 300 student organizations ranging from the African Students Organization to the Waterski Club.
The organizations — representing social fraternities and sororities and honorary, professional, religious, military, service, special interest and sports clubs — all have moderate-sized to large memberships.
K.C. White, associate dean of students, said students should assess what they are interested in and what they have not experienced before joining a campus organization.
“It’s a travesty if a student lives in a residence hall and only goes back and forth from their room and doesn’t get involved,” White said. “They are absolutely missing out on the best a college or university has to offer.”
White said membership in an organization helps students become more connected with the University and develop leadership skills.
Michelle Lowery, coordinator for the CSLI, agreed being involved with an organization helps students become better acquainted with the University and establish their place on campus.
“Unless you seek out an organization, you probably won’t get as involved as someone who does take the initiative,” Lowery said.
Besides helping students feel comfortable on campus, Lowery said involvement in an organization on campus also can help students in their pursuits after college.
Employers often look at involvement in a campus organization when evaluating a potential employee, Lowery said.
Lowery said students should not only be a member of the organization but an active participant.
White agreed students should be involved in the organizations they join.
“If you are just doing it for the resume, then you are doing yourself a disservice,” she said. “It’s one thing to list 10 or 12 organizations, but what kind of leadership roles did you play?”
Panhellenic adviser Angela Guillory said although Greek organizations currently are going through rush, many of the men’s groups continue seeking members throughout the semester with open bidding — giving male students a second chance to join a fraternity.
“Joining a fraternity or sorority provides a great opportunity to make friends quickly on a campus that can seem large,” Guillory said.
Students have several chances at the beginning of the semester to
check out what the University has to offer.
White said Bengal Bound, which started Aug. 20, exposes students to all areas of campus.
Through the program, students are introduced to late night on-campus events and popular areas of campus such as the Rec Center, White said. Students also are given the option to seek academic advising, attend sessions about campus safety and participate in the Chancellor’s Welcome.
“Students can get a better feel for the campus,” White said. “It’s a way for them to get connected to LSU in a way they couldn’t with a two-day orientation.”
Also, students can participate in Community Bound on Aug. 23.
The event is a service component of Bengal Bound in which students go to community schools such as McKinley High School to work with students there to help them begin their fall semester, White said.
The Student Organization Fair, scheduled for Sept. 10, gives students a chance to check out all the campus organizations.
According to the CSLI’s Web site, more than 300 student organizations table on campus to give students information about their specific clubs.
Lowery said she encourages students to look at the Web site to get a sense of what kind of organizations are out there.
The Web site, www.lsu.edu/csli, has links for contact information of the presidents or advisers of certain organizations.
Lowery said students can call the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement at 578-5160 for more information.