Finding your community at UNI

BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Opinion Columnist

As of 2021, UNI reported an undergraduate student enrollment of almost 8,000 students. Of those students include almost 2,000 transfer students, 1,500 students in the College of Business and almost 2,000 incoming freshmen. The student population at UNI encapsulates a wide array of students, within a variety of majors, cultural identities and other demographics. The student organizations on UNI’s campus provide students with the opportunity to find their community and cement their place on UNI’s campus.

On UNI’s campus, there are a wide array of volunteer organizations and philanthropic opportunities for students to build a resume and relationships with other people on campus. These organizations include Connecting Alumni to Students (CATS), which works on keeping strong relationships with alumni, UNI’s Make the Change, which writes letter bundles to a nominated person and Dance Marathon, an organization who volunteers their time and energy to raising money and awareness for children with cancer. As undergraduate students who may be looking at post-undergraduate academic opportunities, volunteering can serve as a catalyst for vital service hours in the academic sphere. On top of volunteering, there are plenty of philanthropic opportunities through Fraternity and Sorority Life on campus that provide an opportunity for students to network philanthropically and create strong relationships with other organizations.

On top of volunteer opportunities available to UNI students, there are also a wide array of opportunities for students to sink their claws into their education and further enrich themselves academically and musically. There are clubs such as the Forensics Club, Psychology Club, Student Elementary & Early Childhood Association (SEECA) and Student Association of Middle Level Educators (SAMLE). There is also a variety of pre-professional clubs to serve those in pre-professional programs and provide them opportunities for academic enrichment and networking outside of the classroom. This includes the Pre-Law Club, Pre-Dental Club, Pre-Medical Club and Pre-Physical Therapy Club, among others. On top of furthering education and enriching students outside of the classroom, there are also a wide variety of art/theater clubs that allow students not in those particular majors to enjoy the arts. The Clay Club, Orchesis Dance Company, the Varsity Glee Club and Student Theater Association are all clubs that provide an opportunity for students to enrich themselves in the arts, even if they aren’t ina theatrical or musical program.

For those looking for a place to explore and enjoy their hobbies, there are also diverse opportunities for students to spend time enjoying their hobbies within a club and community on campus. Among these include clubs and organizations like the Yarn Club, Fishing Club,

Yoga Club, and Panther Tabletop Gaming Club. These clubs allow for students to experience their hobbies and interests within a community on campus, providing a space for networking within a place where there is a shared interest. These clubs tend to be more laid back and more of ‘come as you are’ type organizations, where people will meet you at your skill level and help you reach whatever goals you might have in mind.

As mentioned above, there are sweeping opportunities for students to get involved on campus. So, why do some students struggle with finding their community on campus? One of the biggest reasons this can occur is because sometimes students just aren’t aware of the opportunities available to them. Through use of the Panther FYI, UNI students can find their communities on campus and cement their place within UNI. The Panther FYI allows students to take a quiz over their interests and wants from an organization, then provides students with a list of organizations that fits their inter- ests. On top of the Panther FYI, there’s also the Office for Student Involvement, whose Instagram works on featuring UNI organizations and communities. The importance of getting involved on campus cannot be understated. Finding a community on campus can make or break a college experience. Everyone at UNI can benefit from surrounding themselves with likeminded people within the worlds of academics, entertainment, arts, volunteering, hobbies and cultural identities.

Overall, college is a time for undergraduate students to explore their interests and enjoy themselves while embarking on a rigorous academic journey. It’s important for students to find clubs that cater to their interests, which can prohibit burn out and strengthen a student’s relationship with the university. The right community on UNI’s campus is out there for students. Creating concrete connections on campus keeps students here at UNI, and the right organization and community is waiting for you.