One of the articles we wrote last semester was about how to get involved, I feel this can be linked to this semester's idea of change since it helps you change yourself.
Getting involved on campus will help you grow and develop as a person by the many different experiences you can encounter, a well as helping the organization change with your fresh perspective.
Here is information about how to get involved in order to help change and develop yourself and Binghamton University's campus:
How to Find Involvement Opportunities
Justine Heroux
Justine Heroux
Binghamton is a huge university where you can find just about any club. The only problem is how? It can be very overwhelming looking at all the different fraternity and sorority flags hanging in the library, or reading all the different GIMs (General Interest Meetings) offers posted on B-line. So where do you start? First, you need to figure out what you are interested in, or determine what you are good at. Do you like to do arts and crafts? Do you want to help teach children? Maybe you are more interested in sports. Determining what you think is fun, fulfilling, or stress-free will help you pick out a few involvement opportunities to participate in.
The next step is to start researching areas where you can find involvement opportunities, keeping in mind what you know about yourself. I have provided a list below which has a lot of information on where you can find different involvement opportunities. However, there are a great number of websites and campus offices that I did not list. A good rule of thumb when trying to get involved is to ask questions. Ask your classmates, your resident assistants (RAs), anyone on campus, as to how they are getting involved and how you can get involved. Attend a few general interest meetings listed on b-line and see if you like them. Do you think you could stick with this long term? Does it fit into your schedule? Do you enjoy being involved in this organization and spending time with its members? What kind of opportunity does this provide you with?
If you feel the club is worth your time and effort and most importantly makes you happy, then you have found the right one. Getting involved in different things on campus is important. By joining various clubs you meet new people, get a sense of pride for your school and your organization, have something to list on your resume, and even develop new life skills.
The next step is to start researching areas where you can find involvement opportunities, keeping in mind what you know about yourself. I have provided a list below which has a lot of information on where you can find different involvement opportunities. However, there are a great number of websites and campus offices that I did not list. A good rule of thumb when trying to get involved is to ask questions. Ask your classmates, your resident assistants (RAs), anyone on campus, as to how they are getting involved and how you can get involved. Attend a few general interest meetings listed on b-line and see if you like them. Do you think you could stick with this long term? Does it fit into your schedule? Do you enjoy being involved in this organization and spending time with its members? What kind of opportunity does this provide you with?
If you feel the club is worth your time and effort and most importantly makes you happy, then you have found the right one. Getting involved in different things on campus is important. By joining various clubs you meet new people, get a sense of pride for your school and your organization, have something to list on your resume, and even develop new life skills.
The best places to check are;
1. B-line emails or the b-line.binghamton.edu website
B-line informs you of new and upcoming events, activities, and general interest meetings for different groups on campus. Depending on how the group advertizes, they let you know who the event is open to, how much it costs, when and where, etc.
2. PAWS website at Paws.binghamton.edu
This website tells you about all the different SA Organizations you can join, and the events that these clubs are holding. There is a search box to help you look for an organization and find out what it is about. You can also join an organization’s list serve so that they send you information on their meetings and events. The website also posts upcoming events on the home page that you can click on, read about, and decide if you want to attend or not. It is a great website to play around with and get to know.
3. B-Involved website at involvement.binghamton.edu
This website is just like PAWS, except it is for non- SA Charted organizations such as; Division I Athletics, Peer Assistants, University Departments, Fraternities/Sororities, and Club Sports. It has an events calendar on the homepage just like the PAWS website, and you can search and join organizations. However, the best part is that this website provides you with a co-curricular transcript, just like your academic transcript, but with a list of the organizations you are involved with outside of class. It is also a great site to use and get to know.
4. On campus message boards
These are the cork boards that are located all over campus in the different academic buildings (especially in the lecture hall, the union, and library north). You will find tons of postings from different student groups to activities on campus. Just take a look as you’re passing by!
5. Your Residence Hall, Community, or Dining Hall
Where you live is a great place to start to get involved! There are always posters both on bulletin boards and walls that advertise upcoming events and different organizations. You can even find advertisements on the dining hall tables. If something interests you, go! Ask questions! Try attending some of your hall events you will get to know more people, learn about what others have done throughout their time here at Binghamton, or what they have heard about. I would encourage you to check out your hall and area-wide council meetings. At each meeting they talk about new events, ways you can be involved in those events, and many members from various clubs come to speak at the meetings and get their organization known.
6. Campus Recreational Services website, at www2.binghamton.edu/campus-recreation/index.html
This website informs students about Intramurals, Club Sports, Fitness and Wellness, Aquatics and Outdoor Pursuits involvement opportunities.
7. XCEL Center in the University Union West 208G and the XCEL website at xcel.binghamton.edu
The center provides you with many opportunities to be involved around campus and develop your leadership skills. The website even has a link on the homepage on how to get involved! It has a list of places and programs on campus to help you “get connected” as the website states. If anything, just stop by the center, and talk to one of the XCEL consultants about getting involved! You can even apply to be an XCEL consultant on the webpage.
8. Campus Life in UU South 145 and their website campusactivities.binghamton.edu
The website has various links to different involvement opportunities and events on campus such as Volunteer Programs, Late Nite Binghamton, and major campus events. You can also read the Campus Life’s mission on the website to see what they are all about.
9. Binghamton University’s webpage Binghamton.edu
Binghamton’s website contains many links and information about opportunities on campus. You can look around using the search bar, or the current students tab. It can get you to websites such as XCEL, information on Fraternities and Sororities, and Outdoor Pursuits just to name a few.
10. The Career Development Center (also known as CDC) located in the Bartle Library Ground Floor, South LSG 500 or North LNG 300. Also at www2.binghamton.edu/career-development-center.
The center provides many resources about involvement opportunities on and off campus, as well as different programs you can attend to improve your involvement on campus and your potential careers. They have a link on their homepage as well that provides students with information about campus and local events to get involved in.
These might be specific websites and places for Binghamton University, but even if you do not go to BU, you can apply this mentality to any school or really anywhere. The act of taking initiative is what it important. Be a leader for yourself, motivate yourself to do things you want to do. Change it up a bit! :)
Photo: Binghamton University website, binghamton.edu
