Campus Culture: What are the clubs like?
Loyola’s students can be described as highly-involved, passionate people who are always doing something!
Well, to be honest, some students aren’t about that life. Some people have their core group of friends they stuck with since high school, or from freshman year, and they go to classes, and that’s it. Not being engaged with the student activities life is totally normal and a-okay.
But for the potential students, whether or not joining clubs is in your plan, I thought I’d tell you a little about what it’s like! Of course, every club is different. But I’ll try to give you the basics so it makes sense.
The first step of joining a club, or even knowing it exists, is going to the Organization Fair! It takes place in the first week of every semester, and every club shows up. Clubs get a table and then from there advertise themselves however they want, whether it’s with a trifold of information or by handing out fliers, and so on. It’s a multi-hour phenomenon so students of all schedules, ages, and levels can flit in and out and prowl the tables to learn about what you can do at Loyola. From the Greek Life section to Field Hockey Club to Quidditch Club and the Classics Club, everyone shows up. So if you’re even a vaguely interested student, you gotta go! Or get a trusted friend to go and pick up people’s fliers so you can decide yourself, but without all of the crowdedness. I’ve seen plenty of people do that.
After that, well, it’s a matter of showing up and showing out. Maybe you got on someone’s email list, or their paper told you that their first meeting would be the next week. Explore! Many people go to one or two meetings of clubs and never show up again, and that’s alright. Other ones show up halfway through the semester, and most clubs are okay with that too! Truthfully, the typical Loyola student is in more than one club anyway. I was in six my freshman year. Although I couldn’t give my all to all of them, I had a good time any way.
All of the clubs are mandated to have a Constitution and an Executive Board to keep them running, which means smooth officer transitions and a pretty easy sense of consistency. Each year new presidents don’t generally have to start a club that has been around for fifteen years from the beginning again. If there’s any issues, the Student Activities and Greek Affairs department at the school can help out, whether it’s with budgets, event planning, or just recruiting. Plus.. they can also be used if you want to start your own club! Many people might find that they have a hobby but there isn’t a club for it. It can be made, no problem! Just this year, Loyola’s History Club was re-founded… we haven’t had one for many, many years, but a few dedicated people have given it new life.
What happens after you join a club is up to you. Maybe you attend only the mandatory meetings, or do what you can because you’re too busy to do a lot, or you become the Secretary your sophomore year, or you stop going after two months. Whatever way you do it, you’re guaranteed to meet new people and have some experiences you wouldn’t have without them (even if it is just learning how to deliver a good punch from Boxing Club.)