student orgs

Why join student organizations in college?


From intramural athletics to professional clubs, five current students from Bluffton University shared about the student organizations they are involved with and answer the question: Why join student organizations in college?

Resident advisors ready for a great year

Resident life staff


Want to be that person others count on? Applications for RAs are accepted in the spring.

2018 Beaver Reveal

Be a Beaver - literally!


Students from across campus have gotten into the J. Denny and/or Jenny suit! Be watching in early spring semester for your chance to apply! 

 

Clubs and organizations

Whatever your interests – from academic pursuits to sports and recreation, from community outreach to student government – Bluffton has nearly 60 different co-curricular organizations on campus. And if you can’t find the group you're looking for, you can start your own

Get involved – perform on stage, report for the Witmarsum, explore your faith, serve on Marbeck Activities Council, lead a club – it’s all here for you!

Academic/Pre-Professional

Art Club

Art Club

The purpose of the club is to offer students an opportunity to engage in academic discussions and participate in activities concerning the broad range of topics pertaining to the visual arts. Art Club will support the arts by sponsoring field trips to museums, gallery openings and artist's studio visits when and where possible within the framework of a workable budget. On campus presentations of visual arts material and/or instruction will be sponsored by the Art Club under the supervision of art department faculty.

Advisor: Phil Sugden, sugdenp@bluffton.edu
BEO

Bluffton Education Organization (BEO)

The purpose of the Bluffton Education Organization (BEO) is to develop in prospective educators an understanding of the education profession, to advance the interest and welfare of students preparing for a career in education and to stimulate the highest ideals of professional ethics, standards and attitudes. Members of BEO will have opportunities to complete service projects, participate in campus education activities, attend educational conferences, and participate in other education related experiences. BEO members will have various opportunities to network with other BEO members as well as current student teachers and local administrators.

Advisor(s): Jordan Hamilton, hamiltonj@bluffton.edu
Joyce Jackson, jacksonj@bluffton.edu 

President: Jordan Hemmelgarn

BUBL

Bluffton University Business Leaders (BUBL)

Bluffton University Business Leaders hosts events that offer guidance in resume and cover letter writing and networking. BUBL provides its members the opportunity to gain broader perspectives and insights into the business field. This is accomplished through club meetings and gatherings where planning and organization for business-related events are discussed.

Currently, this club is inactive, but can be reestablished at any time with an increase in student interest.

Advisor: Jason Swartzlander, swartzlanderj@bluffton.edu

BUNA

Bluffton University Nutrition Association (BUNA)

The Bluffton University Nutrition Association is a student-led organization promoting nutrition education, healthy lifestyles, and community engagement through events, outreach, and professional development opportunities for students passionate about nutrition and wellness. 

Advisor: Mackenzie Twardzik, twardzikm@bluffton.edu

BSNO

Bluffton University Student Nurses Organization (BSNO)

The purpose of the Bluffton University Student Nurses Organization is to encourage interest in the study and practice of professional nursing, provide for the dissemination of professional information related to nursing and health and provide student representation in matters of professional nursing and nursing academics.

Advisor: Ruth L. Myers, myersr@bluffton.edu

Student Clubs and Orgs

Criminal Justice Club (OCCJE)

Advisor: Kelly VanGilder, vangilderk@bluffton.edu

English club

English Club

The English Club offers students a chance to gather for camaraderie and informal discussions about all types of literature. The club also sponsors activities pertaining to a broad range of topics in English, literature and theatre including campus poetry readings, trips to theatre productions and dinners with faculty and students.

Advisor: Tobias Buckell, buckellt@bluffton.edu 

Perry Bush

History Club

The History Club is the Bluffton history club. The purpose of the club is to deepen student excitement in the study of history. We accomplish this through a variety of means: films, field trips to historical sites and social activities on and off campus.

Currently, this club is inactive, but can be reestablished at any time with an increase in student interest.

Advisor: Martina Cucchiara, 419-358-3686

NSSLHA

National Student Speech Language Hearing Association - Bluffton Chapter (NSSLHA) 

The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association - Bluffton Chapter (NSSLHA) is for students interested in the study of human communication behavior. The organization seeks to prepare students to successfully engage in leadership and professional opportunities, to disseminate professional and employment information, and to promote lifelong Christian service within the field and to the community by providing opportunities for professional development, continuing education & learning, volunteering & service and social activities.

Advisor: Tina Juarez, juarezt@bluffton.edu

Student Clubs and Orgs

Revive U

ReviveU, the exercise science and strength and conditioning club, aims to create a community for members with shared interests in the health and fitness industry. The club helps members explore their interests, promotes self-respect and respect for others, and encourages service to succeed in the fields of exercise science and strength and conditioning.

Advisor: Amanda Beard, bearda@bluffton.edu

President: Morgan Jarvis

Science club

Science Club

The purpose of the club is to provide organization and support for science-related interests outside of regular courses. The club is open to all students whether majoring in one of the natural sciences or not. The club also provides an informal forum for further exploring current issues related to the natural sciences.

Advisors: Angela Montel, montela@bluffton.edu

President: Jennifer Specht

Student Clubs and Orgs

Social Work Club

The Social Work Club is an active group looking to engage students and the community through a variety of service projects, awareness and social justice events. The group has completed a number of social justice awareness projects over social issues such as food insecurity, human trafficking and domestic violence. The group also invites social work practitioners from the field to speak about their expertise.

Advisor: Walt Paquin, paquinw@bluffton.edu

President: Serenity Sites

Student Clubs and Orgs

Spanish Club

Advisor: Emily Buckell, buckelle@bluffton.edu

President: Coen North 

Student Clubs and Orgs

STUDENT INVESTMENT CLUB

The Student Investment Club is open to any Bluffton University student who is interested in learning how financial markets work. Students get hands on experience in learning about investments through the club's management of one of the university's endowment funds. Club members research, analyze and select the companies in which the club invests through the purchase of shares of common stock.

Advisors:  John Burkhart, burkhartj@bluffton.edu


Special Interest

Anime Club

ANIME CLUB

The purpose of this organization is to enrich the campus community by offering students the opportunity to learn about Eastern culture through films and DVDs which portray the unique religion, myths, art and history of Japanese culture.

Advisor: Autumn Graves, gravesa@bluffton.edu

Brave Spaces

Brave Space

Brave Space is a student led organization that seeks to promote a positive and inclusive atmosphere by working to raise awareness of and support to students that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, on a continuum of sexual orientation and gender identity, and their allies (LGBT+).
>>> Facebook >>> Instagram

Advisor: TBD

2018 football cheerleaders

Cheerleading 

The Bluffton University cheerleaders lead the crowd and support their friends and classmates on the sidelines at football and basketball games.

More about cheerleading at Bluffton >

Advisor: Bri Perkins, cheerleading@bluffton.edu

ESPORTS

Esports

Bluffton University’s esports club seeks to create a competitive, yet supportive, environment in which students learn teamwork, leadership, strategy and real time problem solving skills through gaming events and competitions. Our esports group plays game like Madden, Overwatch, League of Legends, Rocket League and more! 

Advisor: Colton Steiner, steinerc@bluffton.edu

Gaming Club

GAMING CLUB

The purpose of The Gaming Club is for Bluffton students to get together with each other and learn new games (both video and board games). The events that we would hold would be wind-down events for students to come and have fun playing games with others through a combination of board, video, card and trading card games. 

Currently, this club is inactive, but can be reestablished at any time with an increase in student interest.

Advisor: TBD

Women's circle

Gender Perspective 

Bluffton University Gender Perspective serves both women and men by creating community and by bringing about awareness of topics of interest to women through activism and advocacy both on and off campus. Gender Perspective will be involved in outreach and consciousness-raising efforts and advocating for change where it may be needed to better the quality of all women's lives. At the heart of Gender Perspective's constitution is the belief that no one member is more liable or responsible for the organization's maintenance or activities.  All members are equal in importance. In keeping with Bluffton's policies of respect and non-exclusion, all Bluffton students, whether female or male, are welcome to participate.

Currently, this club is inactive, but can be reestablished at any time with an increase in student interest.

Advisor: TBD

Hall Association

Hall Association

Hall Association works to promote harmonious living conditions through the development and enforcement of policies and the organization, promotion, and supervision of social and educational functions in each respective residence hall. 

Advisor: Michael Bryan, bryanm@bluffton.edu

President: Paige Smith

ICon members

International Connection (ICON)

International Connection [ICon] provides a multicultural opportunity for students to build relationships and cultural understanding through interaction with friends from around the world. All Bluffton students are invited to participate in ICon-sponsored events and weekly gatherings at The Lion and Lamb classroom on the lower level of Riley Court.  A weekly email keeps interested students informed of upcoming multicultural opportunities. Consider not only how you can benefit from engaging but recognize that your experiences and perspectives benefit others. Your involvement in ICon is welcome at any point during your Bluffton campus experience. Bring a friend and show up!

Currently, this club is inactive, but can be reestablished at any time with an increase in student interest.

Advisor: TBD

MAC

Marbeck Activities council (MAC)

Marbeck Activities Council (MAC) serves as the main student programming group responsible for planning and executing events. The events are designed to cultivate community on campus through shared experiences.

Follow MAC on Instagram for updated event information!

Advisor: Taylor Zerkle, zerklet@bluffton.edu

J Denny and Jenny Beaver

Mascots: J Denny and Jenny Beaver

Advisor(s): Noah Heiing, heiingn@bluffton.edu
Cara Echols, echolsc@bluffton.edu

J Denny and Jenny are ambassadors for athletics, admissions, advancement and student life. Do you want to get in the suit? Auditions are held annually following the “reveal” for the current year’s mascots, typically in January or February. 
>>> more about Bluffton's mascots
>>> application process

Multicultural Student Organization

Multicultural Student Organization (MSO)

Multicultural Student Organization brings together students of ALL cultures for the purpose of building awareness and promoting diversity in the Bluffton community. We hope to encourage better race relations and contribute to Bluffton University's anti-racism work on campus.

Advisor: Edward Hardaway, hardawaye@bluffton.edu

Peace Club

P.E.A.C.E. Club

P.E.A.C.E. stands for Peace Education and Action Community Endeavor. The organization's purposes are to educate students about current peace-related and social justice issues and to encourage and organize appropriate action in response to these issues through consciousness-raising endeavors. 

Advisor: Paul Neufeld Weaver, weaverpn@bluffton.edu

President: Logan Daugherty

PALs

Peer Awareness Leaders (PALs)

Peer Awareness Leaders (PALs) is a student-led organization that coordinates programming relevant to today’s college students. Issues such as healthy relationships, substance use and abuse, mental health, suicide awareness and prevention, stress relief and domestic violence have all been the subject of events in recent years. 

Advisor: Megan Coffman, coffmanm@bluffton.edu

RPS

Rock Paper Scissors League

The Bluffton University Rock Paper Scissors League is a competitive RPS league that was created in order to build friendships and meet new people, while having fun with competitive RPS!

Currently, this club is inactive, but can be reestablished at any time with an increase in student interest.

Advisor: Zac Lykins, lykinsz@bluffton.edu

SERVE

SERVE

SERVE is a service-oriented group which promotes missions and service opportunities for students off-campus in the local area and beyond. Special on-campus mission awareness days, acts of service to the campus community, and spring break service trips are planned and implemented.

Currently, this club is inactive, but can be reestablished at any time with an increase in student interest.

Advisor: TBD

saac

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) works closely with the student athletes to provide an active role in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC). This allows for student athletes to enhance the total student athlete experience, protect student athlete well-being, and foster a positive image for student athletes both on campus and in the community.

Advisor: Paige Jansen, jansenp@bluffton.edu

President: Ashley Kloeker

Sustainability Club

Sustainability Club

The Sustainability Club is a group of students that meets to coordinate efforts on projects to improve the environmental sustainability of Bluffton University. The club focuses on collaborating on student-led projects that can change Bluffton and on educating the student body on conscious living in regards to creation. The type of projects undertaken by the club will vary depending on the various interests of members, but can include projects such as an annual Sustainability Report, energy saving challenges and an educational week.

>>> Sustainability Club website

Advisor: Jacob Buchanan, buchananj@bluffton.edu

Student Clubs and Orgs

Table Tennis Club 

The purpose of the Table Tennis Club is to provide a space for students to play table tennis, whether that be competitively or just for fun! We have students from lots of different skill levels, and hope to offer events such as tournaments where there will be big prizes. We hope to build a community of table tennis players here on campus along with providing students a space to play. 

Advisor: TBD

ultimate frisbee

Ultimate Frisbee

The purpose of this club team is to have fun and fellowship while playing Ultimate Frisbee competitively with peers at Bluffton as well as at other schools. >>> Facebook

Advisor: Darryl Nester, nesterd@bluffton.edu


Media

The Wit

96.1 FM THE WIT, Campus radio station

96.1 FM The WIT is the radio extension of Bluffton’s fully converged student media organization. Listen in the car or residence hall, or download the app to stream through your mobile device. Live on air, 96.1 The Wit combines various music shows with local sports and campus news coverage produced by Bluffton University students. Located in Founders Hall, the radio station broadcasts and live streams alternative rock music, campus and local news, student-produced shows and home athletic events. The communication and theatre department has administrative and academic responsibility for its operation.

Advisor(s): Melissa Friesenfriesenm@bluffton.edu
David Woodwardwoodwardd@bluffton.edu

The Bridge

Bridge: the Bluffton University Literary Journal 

Bridge is a literary journal which publishes works by young authors, ages 14-24, from across the globe. An online journal is published in the fall and a print version in the spring. Members of the Bridge team read, edit and approve works to be published in Bridge. 

Advisor: Tobias Buckell, buckellt@bluffton.edu

Shalith

Shalith

The Shalith is a yearly literary magazine sponsored by the English and language department and produced by a committee of students and a faculty advisor. Since 1962, Shalith has published writing and artwork by Bluffton students, faculty and staff in a variety of formats.

Advisor: Tobias Buckell, buckellt@bluffton.edu

The Witmarsum

The Witmarsum

The Witmarsum is the student-driven media website of Bluffton University. BlufftonWit.com features student-produced news and feature stories. Paid positions are available working with The Wit. The communication and theatre department has administrative and academic responsibility for its operation.

Advisor: Marathana Prothro, prothorm@bluffton.edu

 
Resident advisors ready for a great year

Resident life staff


Want to be that person others count on? Applications for RAs are accepted in the spring.

2018 Beaver Reveal

Be a Beaver - literally!


Students from across campus have gotten into the J. Denny and/or Jenny suit! Be watching in early spring semester for your chance to apply! 

 

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