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?
Special interest organizations
ANIME CLUB
Advisor: Autumn Graves, gravesa@bluffton.edu
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.
Brave Space
Advisor: TBD
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
Cheerleading
Advisor: Bri Perkins
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 >
Esports
Advisor: Colton Steiner, steinerc@bluffton.edu
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!
Learn more about Esports at Bluffton >
GAMING CLUB
Advisor: TBD
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.
Gender Perspective
Advisor: TBD
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.
Hall Association
Advisor: Michael Bryan, bryanm@bluffton.edu
| President | Paige Smith |
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.
International Connection (ICon)
Advisor: TBD
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.
Marbeck Activities council (MAC)
Advisor: Taylor Zerkle, zerklet@bluffton.edu
| President | Morgan Jarvis |
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!
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 (MSO)
Advisor: Edward Hardaway, hardawaye@bluffton.edu
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.
P.E.A.C.E. Club
Advisor: Paul Neufeld Weaver, weaverpn@bluffton.edu
| President | Logan Daugherty |
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.
Peer Awareness Leaders (PALs)
Advisor: Megan Coffman, coffmanm@bluffton.edu
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.
Rock Paper Scissors League
Advisor: Zac Lykins, lykinsz@bluffton.edu
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.
SERVE
Advisor: TBD
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.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Advisor: Paige Jansen, jansenp@bluffton.edu
| President | Ashley Kloeker |
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.
Sustainability Club
Advisor: Jacob Buchanan, buchananj@bluffton.edu
| President | Jenna Melroy |
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
Table Tennis Club
Advisor: TBD
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.
Ultimate Frisbee
Advisor: Darryl Nester, nesterd@bluffton.edu
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