From Greeks to ROTC, Marshall groups abundant

by Katherine Lewis
The Parthenon

Each year parents of Marshall students send their children off to college and remind them these are the best years of their lives. After staying up all night studying for an exam, stressing out over deadlines or walking in late to class because of a lack of parking, college can sometimes seem like anything but the best of times. 

"Students may be missing out on the support and friendship student organizations and Greek life can bring," Rochelle Smith, Bridgeport junior said. "Student organizations can help students to feel more connected and involved, which should make their years at Marshall more enjoyable." 

For students not interested in Greek life, at least 83 other student organizations and clubs are available. There are six types of student organizations, each with it’s own objectives, goals, and functions, according to the student handbook. Marshall has student organizations that deal with religious, social, departmental, professional, special and honorary interests. 

Departmental organizations would include organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives, Physical Therapy Assistants Club, ROTC Thundering Battalion or the Student Council for Exceptional Children. Examples of a social club would be Habitat for Humanity, the Outdoor Adventure’s Club, Soccer Club and the Philosophy Club. 

Christian Hess, Wheeling junior is a member of a social club the Intercollegiate Ice Hockey Club. "Joining an organization is definitely worthwhile, I’m in the Hockey Club because I have played hockey for as long as I can remember and it is fun," Hess said. 

Just a few of the professional organizations offered on campus are the National Broadcasting Society, M.B.A. Association, National Management Association and the Student’s Nurses Association. 

Andy Hermansdorfer, director of student activities said he believes students get involved in student organizations for their own individual needs. "There are a lot of benefits of joining a student organizations, such as new students getting a chance to meet new people, and students having a direct effect on events on the Marshall campus," Hermansdorfer said. 

He said all organizations are expected to be free of discrimination in their membership process. Several organizations membership is open to faculty, staff, administrators and spouses. Hermansdorfer said 51% of an organization’s membership must be Marshall students. Criteria for membership can be implemented as long as it is applied objectively and has a direct impact on the reason for the club or organization, he said. 

"Students should be made aware that a small part of their student activities fee filters down to different student organizations," Hermansdorfer said. 

Students have started several organizations on campus many other students may not know about. Just a few of these organizations are the Capoeira Club, Artatak, Sweethearts, and Tubonium. Marshall has more than 100 student organizations and clubs officially recognized by the university. 

Some students who need to work say they still would not choose to join a student organization. "I work full-time, but if I didn’t work, I would take more classes before I would join a student organization," Ryan Cooper, Milton senior said. Angelina Fletcher, Parkersburg freshman said she had not joined a organization because the only one she was interested in did not fit here schedule. "The only club that sounded fun to me was the Outdoors club, I thought about joining but their meetings didn’t work out with my schedule," Fletcher said. 

The university has 28 social interest groups listed in the student handbook such as the Tae Kwon Do Club and the Outdoor Adventures Club. Marshall has 10 different religious organizations with several different denominations including Baptist, Muslim, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Catholic, Jewish and others. 

The Accounting Club and the Student Nurses Association are just two of the 14 recognized professional organizations. There are also 11 different honorary organizations. Hank Rider, Ansted senior said he had been a student at Marshall for five years and he had not joined a student organization nor did he plan to. 

"This is my first year here and I only have one year before I get my masters in art so I guess you could say I didn’t really have a chance to know what was available," Chase Teagarden, Fairmont graduate said. 

Rider said he thinks of fraternities and sororities when he thinks of student organizations. "I just wasn’t interested in buying my friends like many fraternities do," Rider said. Micah Pressman, Huntington junior said he thought that a lot of students had preconceived ideas about what fraternities were all about. 

Pressman is still a member of the university he transferred from to attend Marshall. A member of a fraternity gave his thoughts on the importance of greek life. "I believe the bond and unity among my fraternity brothers is a very important part of belonging to a fraternity," Edward Cleveland Walker III, Logan senior and member of Kappa Alpha Psi said. "It is a benefit to people to belong to an organization where we have similar interests and experiences," Walker said. 

Some students say they plan to join a student organization but just have not taken the steps to join or are not aware of what is available. "I don’t really know what is available other than organizations that are directly involved with my major," Ruggles said. 

Hermansdorfer said different organizations are being created all the time. "Just a few weeks ago a group of student formed a vegetarian club, but I can not remember the name they created for it," Hermansdorfer said. Hermansdorfer said he was not really sure why more students do not join organizations, but that a number had choose to and seemed to enjoy what they had become part of. 

The Capoiera Club is an organization interested in promoting Brazilian culture through the teaching of Brazilian art. Stanley Sporny is an associate professor of the art department and adviser for Artatak and he said the group does public art projects free to learn skills that would be valuable to them in their profession and to attain paid projects. 

"Artatak has done community artwork including murals on the Guyandotte flood wall, at the Big Sandy Store in the Huntington Mall, and on the wall of the children’s section in Barboursville library," Sporney said. Sweethearts promotes sisterhood among Marshall females, and Tubonium is interested in teaching students the art of playing the tuba. For more information on student organizations call 696-6770. 
 
 

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