STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
EXPERIENCE GU
www.gonzaga.edu/student-development THE PROGRAM
THE PASSION
The Division of Student Development at GU helps cultivate the intellectual, ethical, social, physical, and spiritual elements of one’s personality. More than 100 extracurricular clubs and organizations invite students’ participation. Academic clubs provide challenging opportunities for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to the real world. Interest groups help students develop leadership skills, while allowing them to organize events and activities for causes they believe are important. Sports clubs offer friendly competition and opportunities for staying physically active. Peer support groups ensure that students always have a time and place to reflect upon personal issues and concerns. This array of activities contributes to Gonzaga’s strong sense of community by providing many opportunities to meet friends outside of the classroom.
Many universities educate people to be proficient in a chosen field. Although classroom learning and professional training are important, Gonzaga University believes there is much more to education. The Division of Student Development champions the holistic learning of the Jesuit tradition embodied here at Gonzaga—an education of mind, body, and spirit.
Gonzaga believes that education takes place both in the classroom and in life outside it. A complete Gonzaga education may include a variety of vibrant experiences: times of prayer and reflection during a University Ministry retreat, the memorable performance of a theatre production, the joy of making music with the University Chorale, the rewards of giving back to a community through service, and the thrill of a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT Gonzaga’s Student Body Association (GSBA) is the engine that drives campus life. By participating in GSBA, students develop experience in running campus-wide campaigns and representing their peers in government positions, while designing new and exciting
ways to enhance Gonzaga’s lively atmosphere. GSBA and the Gonzaga Activities Board (GAB) sponsor countless on-campus events, including GU’s annual Spring Bling celebration and numerous concerts and dances. By inviting engaging guest speakers to campus and chartering diverse clubs and organizations, GSBA often leads the student body in tackling current issues that matter to students. GSBA also has a voice in the overall operation of the University. You can find out more about GSBA at gogsba.org.
UNIVERSITY MINISTRY GU’s University Ministry department offers a variety of resources to help students develop in faith. Retreats, small groups, worship and liturgy, Bible study, programs, faith and justice initiatives, one-on-one mentoring, and other ministries attract hundreds of participants each year. Open to people of all faiths, these events and offerings allow students to ask big and meaningful questions, nurture relationships, reflect on their lives, share thoughts and beliefs, and build community in a welcoming and comfortable environment. University Ministry retreats take place regularly each academic year throughout Spokane and
northern Idaho. For example, the Freshmen Retreat runs five times a year at Silver Lake Camp in Medical Lake, Washington. The Montserrat Retreat occurs four times a year at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in south Spokane. The annual Pilgrimage, a scenic 11mile hike, concludes at the historic Old Mission in Cataldo, Idaho. The Cardoner Retreat is hosted multiple times each year in Wallace, Idaho. And the Search retreat, Gonzaga’s longest-running retreat program, takes place four times a year at the Bozarth Mansion and Retreat Center, an historic estate in north Spokane, which is owned by the university. Other ministries occur on or near campus. University Ministry’s largest ongoing initiative, the Christian Life Communities (CLC) program, is an Ignatian small groups program with a long history at Jesuit universities. Thirst is a weekly praise and worship group that meets in the Globe Room of Cataldo Hall. Student Masses take place regularly in the University Chapel (on the 3rd floor of College Hall). FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is another dynamic group. Community partners, such as Young Life, also meet frequently on campus. Whether students are looking to meet new people, share meaningful conversation, learn more about Ignatian spirituality and contemplative prayer, go deeper into Scripture, experience authentic community worship, discover their vocation, take time out from busy campus life, or simply relax, University Ministry can help provide that unique experience. Stop by the office in Crosby or visit facebook.com/umingu to find out more about University Ministry at Gonzaga!
STUDENT MEDIA Filled with student editorials and campus news, The Gonzaga Bulletin, GU’s award-winning weekly student newspaper, offers aspiring writers and activists with clear opinions a chance to sharpen their journalistic skills. Offering an all-classical format, Gonzaga’s own KAGU radio station (local FM 87.8) has a loyal following both on- and off- campus. GU’s TV productions have been seen regionally and across the nation. Student-run broadcasts of Gonzaga athletics appear regularly on Root Sports and local NBC affiliate KHQ. GU’s coverage of a Congressional debate on campus was carried on CNN. In addition to these major productions, GU’s Broadcast Studies & Electronic Media Department sponsors a number of telecasts on local cable and public television. Students do not need to major in journalism or broadcasting to get involved with these activities. Previous experience in media productions is not necessary, and interested students can participate as early as their freshman year. As long as students are willing to learn, Gonzaga gives them the opportunity to unleash their creativity in print, over the airwaves, and behind the camera.
ATHLETICS Gonzaga believes there is an athlete inside each student capable of enjoying the thrill of competition and the benefits of exercise. GU also believes that intramurals and recreational sports are a great way for students to meet new friends, try different activities, and simply have fun.
(150 residents) residence halls, and large (350+ residents) residence halls. Gonzaga offers a variety of suite-style, corridor-style, and apartmentstyle residence facilities, including some intentional living and learning communities with faculty and staff advisors. For those wishing to live in University housing for more than two years, GU offers a variety of on- and off-campus apartments, plus some houses owned by the University. The Jesuit community and Division of Student Development at Gonzaga University highly value the impact that learning to live in community has on students. This required experience helps students develop: • an increased level of interpersonal sophistication • knowledge of and sensitivity to people with differing backgrounds, beliefs, and personalities • exploration and development of values that will work well in community This commitment is also one that the Jesuits make, as they either live in community with each other on campus at Jesuit House or with students as chaplains in the residence halls. A variety of professional Housing & Residence Life staff members also make this commitment and live in community with students in Gonzaga housing.
SERVICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
More than 65 percent of Gonzaga students play intramural sports (such as basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, and volleyball). GU also sponsors sports clubs to suit just about any athletic interest from dance to skiing to lacrosse. All athletes, from rookies to veterans, are encouraged to participate.
Gonzaga’s Jesuit tradition is embodied in its commitment to community service. The Center for Community Action and Service Learning (CCASL) responds to the economic, social, and spiritual needs of the Spokane community by matching student volunteers with local agencies and institutions in need of assistance. As one of the most popular student programs at Gonzaga, CCASL invites students to make a positive impact on society and embrace the real-life lessons that only service-learning can teach.
At the NCAA Division I level, Gonzaga University fields highly competitive teams in basketball, crew, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball (women only), and baseball (men only). All the teams are members of the West Coast Conference, and some also compete regionally. Those who wish to try out for these teams should contact the individual coaches. Admission to all games and competitions is free for student spectators.
Some Spokane groups currently served by CCASL include Habitat for Humanity, Holy Family Hospital, Martin Luther King Center, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Spokane AIDS Network, Spokane Parks and Recreation, Women’s Drop-In Center, and many more. Volunteers perform duties varying from carpentry to tutoring and mentoring young people through the Campus Kids and other mentoring programs.
ON-CAMPUS LIVING
Recently, CCASL added the Ruellen-Day Community Garden to its backyard. Located on the Gonzaga University campus, the Ruellen-Day Community Garden engages GU students, staff and faculty in the growing of fresh organic produce for the Campus Kitchen. Service-learning courses use the garden as a touchstone to teach about local issues of food insecurity and sustainability. Youth from CCASL’s mentoring partner programs use the
Gonzaga requires students to both live and dine on campus for their first two years of college, unless they are 21 or older, married, or living at home with immediate family over the age of 21. This means most freshmen and sophomores (well above 90 percent) live on campus. There is a rich variety of facilities: 40-person “house style” residence halls, mid-sized
garden as a resource to learn more about where their food comes from and how to make healthier meal choices. In addition to service opportunities within the Spokane area, a significant number of Gonzaga students commit to serving in other parts of our nation and world. Mission: Possible, an alternative Spring Break program, provides interested students with the opportunity to work for social justice in other parts of the United States. Mission: Possible currently provides students with the opportunity to spend their spring breaks on a service immersion trip outside of Spokane. Typically, a group of about 10 to 20 students travel to one of ten sites around the country and serve local communities. Their projects, ranging from repairing and restoring houses to teaching English to former refugees, help broaden their perspectives of life in our diverse country. Sites for 2014 will include the following: • • • • •
Boise, Idaho Browning, Montana Denver, Colorado Jonestown, Mississippi Knoxville, Tennessee
• • • • •
Neah Bay, Washington Portland, Oregon San Francisco Bay Area, California St. Louis, Missouri Tacoma, Washington
Another service immersion program, Justice in January (JIJ), began in 2011 based on a desire to expand service opportunities for students at Gonzaga. JIJ takes place over Gonzaga’s winter break prior to the start of the Spring semester. The program aims to accompany and serve the immigrant population in the United States, as well as to enter into dialogue with local non-profits and government agencies to gain a broader perspective on U.S. immigration and border issues. In 2013, JIJ groups traveled to Tucson, AZ, and San Diego, CA.
DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL PROGRAMS One of the most rewarding elements of a Gonzaga education is its ability to expose students to different cultures. GU embraces diversity in many ways from guest lectures about civil rights to informal gatherings at Gonzaga’s Unity Multicultural Education Center (UMEC). UMEC is an on-campus house dedicated to celebrating diversity, educating the campus about issues of diversity, and providing academic advising and support for students of color and first-generation college students. During Spring Break, UMEC offers a program called the “Chi-Urban Excursion,” which takes a group of Gonzaga students to Chicago to explore diversity and cultural issues in an urban setting. UMEC is also the site of Gonzaga’s LGBT Resource Center, which is a center that provides community, networking, research, and education related to concerns shared by students, staff, and faculty of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
In addition to a number of popular diversity and culture-focused student organizations on campus (see list on back page), the International Student Union ranks among the largest organizations on campus, boasting membership from over 45 different countries. By providing individuals with opportunities to experience a diversity of customs and traditions, Gonzaga helps students express their own identity while opening their eyes to the wide range of cultures represented on campus.
MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE Every week, the Crosby Student Center is home to Coffee House, live musical performances featuring Gonzaga bands and student ensembles. The music spans many musical genres, and the performances are always free. Sometimes special guests grace the Coffee House stage, and Coffee House holds open-mic nights as well. Coffee House is just one of many musical forums on GU’s campus. Bands play everything from reggae to country at GSBA and club-run dances. Gonzaga also boasts excellent choirs and an accomplished symphony orchestra, which perform regularly at formal concerts and recitals. Other active music ensembles in Gonzaga’s Music Department include its Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble, plus smaller chamber groups and jazz combos. Big Bing Theory, a co-ed a cappella group, entertains students at a variety of venues, and GU’s Bulldog Band delights Zags at basketball games in the Kennel and even hits the road to play at some of Gonzaga’s biggest games away from home. Drama is a popular pastime at Gonzaga. For potential actors and audiences, theatre is readily available for performing and viewing pleasure. Two or three theatrical productions are staged each year, ranging from classical plays and modern scripts to children’s stories and musicals. In addition to these main-stage productions, a reader’s theatre series, student-directed scenes, and one-act plays allow student production teams, actors, and stage crews to gain theatre experience. Gonzaga also offers the frenzied fun of improvisational theatre. Gonzaga University Theatre Sports (GUTS) practices twice a week and performs a live improv comedy show once a month. Like all of GU’s drama activities, GUTS welcomes thespians at all levels of experience. Traditionally held in the spring, Gonzaga also holds an annual dance recital featuring a variety of dance types and experience levels. Gonzaga’s Dance Team and Bomb Squad (hip-hop dance club) both regularly perform at campus and community events throughout the year, particularly home basketball games.
ACTIVE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS AT GONZAGA
Honorary Organizations Alpha Kappa Psi (Business) Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society) Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting/Finance) Eta Sigma Phi (Latin, Greek, Classics) Iota Rho (Communication Studies) Kappa Delta Pi (Education) Multi-Cultural Honor Society National Residence Hall Honorary Phi Alpha Theta (History) Pi Sigma Alph (Political Science/Pre-Law) Psi Chi (Psychology) Tau Beta Pi (Engineering) Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Washington Gamma Chapter) Advocacy/Educational Clubs Aquatic Conservation Club Colleges Against Cancer Edun Live on Campus G PLUS Gonzaga Activities Board Gonzaga Environmental Organization Gonzaga Student Body Association Gonzaga Students for Life Helping Educate Regarding Orientation Hip Hop Culture Club International Justice Mission Chapter Justice Club Kennel Club Kenya Club Helping Academic Need and Development in Zambia Red Cross Club Residence Hall Association Speak Up! STOP Trafficking Club Up Til Dawn
Political Clubs Campus Libertarians College Republicans Young Democrats Music & Performing Arts Clubs Big Bing Theory (a cappella group) Boundless (dance group) Bulldog Band Open Outlet Service Organizations Career Center Representatives Circle K GU Service Club Knights & Setons Man’s Best Friend Hobby/Recreation Clubs Disc Golf Club Film Club Social Gaming Club Cultural Clubs Black Student Union Chinese Club Filipino American Student Union First Nations Hawaii Pacific Islanders Club International Student Union La Raza Latina Religious Organizations Blessed John Paul II Fellowship Gonzaga Witness THIRST Sports Clubs Bomb Squad (hip-hop dance) Club Swim Team Club Tennis Cycling Club Dance Team Hockey Club Men’s Basketball Club Men’s Club Soccer Men’s Club Volleyball Men’s Lacrosse Club Men’s Rugby Club Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Club Running Club Ski & Snowboard Club Triathlon Club Women’s Lacrosse Club Women’s Rugby Club Women’s Soccer Club Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club Women’s Volleyball Club *For more information on clubs and organizations at Gonzaga, please visit: www.gonzaga.edu/zagtivities.
EXPERIENCE GU
Academic Clubs American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers Bulldog Investment Group Club Francais English Club Exercise Science/Human Physiology Club Gonzaga Student Nurses Association Gonzaga Engineers Without Borders Graduate Student Association Health Sciences Club History Club Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers Italian Club Japanese Club Latin Club Mock Trial Pre-Law Society Psychology Club Public Relations Student Society of America Science Club Society of Automotive Engineers Society of Human Resource Management Society of Women Engineers Writers Block