Student Organization Update

After attending the Student Organization Gala before spring break I had many more questions about getting involved.

I decided to do a little research about the 200 or more organizations at the University of Toledo and it seems my beliefs and concerns have been nothing but a misconception.

There is so much I didn’t know about student involvement and what it means to be a proud UT student.

Students in organizations consider it a great way to network as well as a social experience.

I no longer want to let my ignorance foreshadow what seems like a great experience for any college student. I cannot ignore the fact that becoming more involved is something that I want before I leave this university. I wanted to dig a little deeper.

I had the pleasure of speaking with few individuals from UT’s Student Government to hear about personal experiences and their views about the success of student organization.

Andreya Williams, a senior majoring in early childhood education, is one face that is seen often, not only on our MyUT portals and the UT billboard advertisements around Toledo.

Williams is the Vice President of the Black Student Union. She is also on the General Fee Committee, a member of Delta Sigma Theta and a member of the Student Conduct Hearing Board.

Williams explained Student Government is supposed to represent students as a whole.

“It is what bridges the gap between the students and faculty to make sure that students are involved and make them aware of what is going on our campus.” Williams said. “We represent those students who feel that they don’t have a voice or feel that they can’t speak up,” Williams said. “We want to know what they want to see change on campus. ”

Williams said members of SG treat each other. Like friends, not just like “senators or presidents.”

Anticipating my interview with graduate student Mark Carter, I didn’t know what awaited me behind the door of the SG office. He sat chatting with SG President Matt Rubin, who seemed to be tuned in the conversation before I intruded. I didn’t expect Rubin to be there but I was pleased that I was given the opportunity to speak with two high-ranking student government officials in one interview.

Carter is also heavily involved on campus in a various organizations such as BSU and Alpha Sigma Phi along with Rubin, who joined this year.

“When you go out into the business world and they look at your resume, they don’t just look at your GPA, they look at what you were involved in,” Carter said.

I was surprised to learn that Rubin took a moment to read my latest series but what shocked me most was his response.

“To be honest it kind of made me a little sad because student involvement has been the most important thing of my college career. I am so passionate about it. I’ve learned so much and have had so many extraordinary experiences,” Rubin said.

I wanted to see how busy things get in the Office of Student Involvement, I spoke with Sara Sheperd, a graduate student employed with the office of student involvement.

“It’s like a zoo. It’s like orderly chaos. We are like the go-to office,” she said.

This talk with the members of UT’s SG changed the way I view the organizations.

“Just because I decided to join a student organization I’ve had those opportunities to step up in leadership,” Rubin said. “It’s one thing to go to class everyday and sit in a classroom and listen to a lecture but when you are actually out there communicating with people and contributing to the political process of things working hard to achieve a goal that is bigger than yourself with another group of people its electrifying. It feels me with such a sense of pride that I wish others could have the same experience.”