2008 Woodie Awards
Campus groups open opportunities for all students
Mary Lunday
Issue date: 7/26/07 Section: Campus Life
- Page 1 of 1
There are 153 student organizations at Pittsburg State University for students to choose from. A number so large is sure to overwhelm an incoming freshman.
These student organizations range from the average, such the history club, to the not so average like the PSU kin-ball sport club.
Kin-ball is a sport in which one team stands on one end of a gym floor while two others stand in the corners of the other end.
The object is to serve a ball in such a way that the opposing teams will not be able to catch it before the ball hits the ground.
Eric Bluml, senior in biology/premed and president of the kin-ball club, says the only member requirements are an open mind, since kin-ball is different than most sports, and patience, because it take a while to learn.
"My goals are to spread the awareness and enjoyment of kin-ball, and to get funding so we can take a team to an international tournament," Bluml said
Dan Zurek, associate professor of biology, is adviser of the premed club.
Zurek said, "One of the most important functions it (the premed club) serves is to implement the Pittsburg Free Clinic."
Zurek says that the free clinic is the only one in the nation that is run only by students. The volunteers are students involved in the premed club and from the local health-care community.
"Our student volunteers gain the experience of operating a medical care facility, including submitting grants for support, conducting fund-raisers, organizing staffing and arranging for supplies and needed equipment," said Zurek.
Gorillas in Your Midst is another organization that tries to reach students on health issues, but in a different way.
The group communicates to students through skits that dramatize such problems as drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, stress and suicide.
"Our goal every year is to inform each student about the health risks that are present during college life," said Daniell Epley, junior in psychology.
Epley says that to become a member, a student must take a two-credit hour course taught by the adviser, J.T. Knoll.
A more academic group, the history club, welcomes students in majors other than history.
"History majors, history minors, students in history classes, or anyone else," are welcome to join the history club, said James Schick, club adviser and university professor of history.
Schick says that some of the advantages of being apart of the history club are trips to the Renaissance Festival in Kansas City and seeing history-themed movies in Joplin and Pittsburg.
Schick says that all student organizations are unique, but all are beneficial to student life.
"The opportunity to get together with others can overcome the loneliness of college and provide friendships that will last all through college and beyond," he said. "Plus, they will plunge you into beneficial experiences you might never have had if you weren't a member."
For a complete list of student organizations, contact the Campus Activities Center at 235-4795 or visit www.pittstate.edu/union/organizations/
These student organizations range from the average, such the history club, to the not so average like the PSU kin-ball sport club.
Kin-ball is a sport in which one team stands on one end of a gym floor while two others stand in the corners of the other end.
The object is to serve a ball in such a way that the opposing teams will not be able to catch it before the ball hits the ground.
Eric Bluml, senior in biology/premed and president of the kin-ball club, says the only member requirements are an open mind, since kin-ball is different than most sports, and patience, because it take a while to learn.
"My goals are to spread the awareness and enjoyment of kin-ball, and to get funding so we can take a team to an international tournament," Bluml said
Dan Zurek, associate professor of biology, is adviser of the premed club.
Zurek said, "One of the most important functions it (the premed club) serves is to implement the Pittsburg Free Clinic."
Zurek says that the free clinic is the only one in the nation that is run only by students. The volunteers are students involved in the premed club and from the local health-care community.
"Our student volunteers gain the experience of operating a medical care facility, including submitting grants for support, conducting fund-raisers, organizing staffing and arranging for supplies and needed equipment," said Zurek.
Gorillas in Your Midst is another organization that tries to reach students on health issues, but in a different way.
The group communicates to students through skits that dramatize such problems as drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, stress and suicide.
"Our goal every year is to inform each student about the health risks that are present during college life," said Daniell Epley, junior in psychology.
Epley says that to become a member, a student must take a two-credit hour course taught by the adviser, J.T. Knoll.
A more academic group, the history club, welcomes students in majors other than history.
"History majors, history minors, students in history classes, or anyone else," are welcome to join the history club, said James Schick, club adviser and university professor of history.
Schick says that some of the advantages of being apart of the history club are trips to the Renaissance Festival in Kansas City and seeing history-themed movies in Joplin and Pittsburg.
Schick says that all student organizations are unique, but all are beneficial to student life.
"The opportunity to get together with others can overcome the loneliness of college and provide friendships that will last all through college and beyond," he said. "Plus, they will plunge you into beneficial experiences you might never have had if you weren't a member."
For a complete list of student organizations, contact the Campus Activities Center at 235-4795 or visit www.pittstate.edu/union/organizations/
Be the first to comment on this story