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If you’ve ever attended one of Syracuse University’s organization fairs or events, you know this campus is home to an overwhelming number of clubs and organizations that students can partake in. If there’s something you’re passionate about, chances are there’s a club you can join to pursue that interest further, surrounded by like-minded people. In fact, there are more than 300 clubs and extracurricular student groups here at SU, for a campus population of over 15 thousand undergraduates and 6 thousand graduate students.

However, a number of these clubs are coupled with fees that many are unable to afford and are highly selective in who they allow to join, which can deter underclassmen from putting themselves out there. After a few semesters, those students may feel more ready to take a shot at joining a club, but by then it may feel like it’s too late. It can be daunting figuring out where to start, and what organization may be the right fit. Without a head start on looking into clubs and getting involved freshman year, upperclassmen may feel too intimidated to get involved in later years, but this shouldn’t be the case.

Dakota Dorsey | Design Editor

There are still plenty of opportunities for juniors and seniors to join in, learn new things and meet new people, and it’s imperative that college students use their time at school to venture out and try new things. Joining a club or organization in college is one of the last chances many students have to leave their comfort zones and explore new fields before leaving for higher education or joining the workforce. This said, it’s crucial young adults utilize the opportunities around them. But with the growing competition to join such organizations, how are students supposed to feel comfortable joining?

While it is important to choose driven, qualified and talented members to continue the legacy of an organization, this can exclude older or less experienced students who may just now be developing an interest in a subject. When clubs are competitive and selective in the application process, it leaves inexperienced students feeling lost.

The most infamous and difficult groups to join are considered by many students to be Greek organizations, involving fraternities or sororities that recruit members through an official elimination process in which candidates are matched to a house. Although a popular choice, sororities and fraternities are not always the right fit for everyone, and even if you change your mind and wish to go through the process your junior or senior year, you’re essentially out of luck. The exclusivity of Greek life can be stressful, so it’s important to know that there are other options.

There are several ways to get involved with organizations for little or no cost that can help students explore their heritage and help them feel more connected to their roots while being away from home. Syracuse Hillel, for example, is a Jewish campus community that aims to “enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.” It’s free of charge to attend their weekly Shabbat dinners and services. I’ve found myself at Hillel for the Jewish holidays that I would spend with family prior to college and can confidently say that having a place on campus that offers that same feeling of unity and love is very special.

More organizations that are free of cost and aim to empower communities of marginalized backgrounds include the Black Student Union as well as the Indigenous Students at Syracuse (ISAS). These clubs can generate a further sense of belonging for students at SU.

Uncertainty can arise for students who are already enrolled in one club or organization and may feel apprehensive to join more. But being part of one organization doesn’t, and shouldn’t, cut you off from exploring other opportunities as well.

Commit to learning more about yourself and the unique aspects of your personal interests. This is your college experience, so take the time you have here to explore everything you feel passionate about. This is your moment to step out of your comfort zone, to pursue a new interest or unearth an old one. Take the time to explore new clubs and groups on campus, because the first meeting you attend could completely change the trajectory of your college career for the better.

There are still so many viable opportunities for upperclassmen to get more involved in our campus community. No matter your age or how far along you are in your college journey, it is never too late to put yourself out there and join a new group on campus.

Gracie Lebersfeld is a junior majoring in Selected Studies in Education and Creative Writing. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at gmlebers@syr.edu.

Published on September 10, 2024 at 9:45 pm