“Oh man, I am so bored… all I do is work, work, work. I can’t take looking at the computer screen anymore.” Sound familiar?
For those who want an outlet to their boredom on campus and need a release, local, recreational, and professional groups are available at SCAD. If your computer has been your only way to life outside of your dorm, you can connect with other liked-minded students, find true camaraderie and a chance to build on your social networking skills. So, get out and get going!
For the poetically inclined, Poets with Passion may stir your soul and enhance your lyrical perspective. Founder and President Kelvin Parker began the group during the fall 2009 quarter. The group’s mission is to “promote artists to obtain personal growth in the areas of communication, writing and leadership.” Parker also notes that Poets with Passion “is open to all writers interested in poetry and [who] have a desire to use words in a positive and creative manner.” Poets with Passion’s current membership is about 30 students; anyone interested in joining may contact Parker at kparke22@student.scad.edu or attend a weekly meeting held on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. in Room 371. The club will be hosting its first poetry slam in the Welcome Center on Thursday May 6 at 8:30 p.m. There is no admission fee.
If writing is not your strong suit, but helping others is, you can become a peer educator. Much like the peer helpers from high school, these students are trained in outreach skills to help students. Formed in the spring of 2009, the group urges all who are excited to help their fellow students to sit in on a meeting. For those who want to get involved, students will be trained and certified under The BACCHUS Network™, as well as receive their peer education certificate. BACCHUS’ and SCAD’s peer educator mission focuses on “comprehensive health and safety initiatives, actively [promotes] student and young adult based campus and community-wide leadership on healthy and safe lifestyle decisions concerning alcohol abuse, tobacco use, illegal drug use, unhealthy sexual practices and other high-risk behaviors.” So if you suffer from insomnia, too much stress, and/or need a friend to talk to, this group will have your back when the world seems out of whack and confusing. For more information, contact Miranda Malloy at mmalloy@scad.edu. The group’s official launch party will be May 7 at 3:00 p.m. in the DMC.
Students can have their voices heard through the United Student Forum. Is the bed in your dorm room still not fixed? Are there not enough parking spaces at Ivy Hall? This is where the student body can express their concerns with faculty, staff and administrators. As the “voice of the student body,” Director of Student Life Marcus Mister affirms, “this is the forum to inflict change and [express] student concerns.” The blue flier that Mister hands out to all who inquire states that the mission of this organization is “to increase student involvement in the SCAD policy [and] decision making process with the idea that cooperation between students and administrators will further enhance the mission of the college.” To get involved, e-mail Mister at mmister@scad.edu. The group meets every other Friday of each month, yet the meetings are only open for members. Look for USF next week on Earth Day at the SCAD Way clean up.
With so many organizations to choose from, students are sure to find a way to get involved at SCAD. If the groups listed here did not pique your interest, a comprehensive list of student organizations can be found under the student life section of your MySCAD account. The Connector will showcase a variety of organizations and activities in the weeks to come.