Summer 2018 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Special Issue
PHOTOS BY SARAH GRAVES AND ELIAS MAKI | THE WICHITAN
The 5Kolor Run participants commence the race by throwing chalk in the air covering each other at Sike’s Lake Trail on April 18.
PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN
Participants pose for a group photo after the Ms. & Mr. Black Excellence Pageant at Akin Auditorium on April 6. The winner for Ms. Black Excellence was Jamilah Kangudja, exercise physiology sophomore, and the winner for Mr. Black Excellence was Simon Green, sports and leisure junior.
Edwards Collin, psychology sophomore, and Alec Roberts, accounting sophomore, dance for the Caribbean Student Organization at the lip-sync competition in D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Oct. 16, 2017.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB College about more than going to class W
hether trying out for a sports team, pledging for Greek Life or joining one of the campus organizations, student involvement increases mental health, helps students strive to graduate and increases overall enjoyment of the college experience according to campus officials. According to Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, there are 98 registered campus groups available for students to join, all of which have positive impacts on student growth and endeavors in their college experience. “Interacting with people outside of class where you focus on common interests is very important in developing a student,” Lamb said. “[Students are] developing the ability to work with others, and joining organizations says a lot to fu-
KRISTIN SILVA | REPORTER
ture employers about the student. [It says] students do like working with others and being a part of something that requires dependency.” Kylah Broadnax, student-athlete advisory committee member, volleyball player and kinesiology freshman, said not everyone gets to experience college. Being involved helped her adjust to living away from home, she said. “For me, as a freshman coming in, I was worried about missing my family and friends at home, but since I already had a group here, it was easy to adjust because I knew they had my back and I could go talk to them,” Broadnax said. “I definitely [feel like being involved is important] because college is a blessing and if you don’t take advantage of it then what are you here for? Why not make it the best experience it can be?”
Not only does being part of an organization require a certain level of discipline, but it also teaches time-management skills, Lamb said. “[Students learn] to balance involvement with coursework, get rest and to generally be healthy,” Lamb said. “To be involved allows a student to make connections, opens a world of informal resources to them that perhaps were not available prior to joining a campus group.” Jacob Warren, Student Government Association member, Tau Kappa Epsilon senator, Maniac member and economics senior, said being involved in as many organizations as possible has better prepared him for his future. “I would say being involved has helped me learn more than what I would have in the classroom,” Warren said. “College is a package of experiences and opportunities
to learn. I learned a lot in my classrooms. I learned how to be more professional and be more prepared in the real world, and everything I’ve learned in the classroom I have been able to apply in the real world which has helped me enhance those skills.” According to Broadnax, being involved in more than one group has helped her be more responsible. “School is not exactly how life is going to be set up,” Broadnax said. “If you’re doing other activities too, you’re going to have other things to do outside of school and better prepare yourself for your future. It helps with responsibility and keeps you accountable.” Lamb said national studies have shown students who are more involved
see CLUBS pg.2