Entering college signifies new beginnings, adventures and a time to explore. One way students can find out what SMU has to offer is to join one of the more than 200 student organizations.
SAMSA is a “one-stop shop for getting involved at SMU,” according to Assistant Director Alicia Edwards. She said “SAMSA advises students in their development through educational, cultural and fun co-curricular experiences.”
According to Edwards, freshmen as well as transfer students should be able to find one or two organizations they may want to join, and if they don’t, they are more than welcome to start their own organizations.
“It is important for first-year students to get involved so that they can connect with other students and so that they feel like they belong,” she said. “Having a sense of pride and a sense of ownership to SMU is so important for students as they become acclimated to the campus culture.”
The fall organizational fair, called “A Night A The Club”, is August 21 at 7 p.m. Edwards said this is an opportunity for students to learn about the different organizations and clubs from current members.
See below for a list of organizations many freshmen become involved with.
Minority Organizations:
According to Jin Chung, coordinator of Asian American Student Services, sometimes minority students at SMU can experience “a sense of culture shock.” This may be even greater for commuter students.
“It’s usually a great idea for students of color to get involved in culturally-based organizations such as the Association of Black Students, the Asian Council, the College Hispanic American Students and the Middle Eastern Students Association,” he said.
Program Council
Program Council is one of the main programming bodies on campus. PC organizes many of the events on campus including Sing Song and concerts. The organization even plans movie nights on Thursdays in the Hughes-Trigg Theater.
Student Senate
The Student Senate represents students within the university’s structural organization. The body, among other things, addresses student concerns, disperses funds to student organizations and provides scholarships.
According to Austin Prentice, student body vice president, first-year students have an important role in Student Senate.
“A first-year’s vote is equal to the rest of the Senate, so this helps them feel involved and not overlooked early on in their college years,” he said. “They can add an insight that is vital because they might not overlook something that everyone else has because they became so accustomed to it.”
Prentice said freshmen can become involved by either running for one of the five first-year senate seats or by joining a committee.
Jake Torres, student body president, said first-year Senators participate like the rest of the “elected” Senators.
“They write legislation, vote on Senate resolutions and serve on committees,” he said.
Prentice said joining a committee “is a great alternative for someone looking for a little more low-key position” in Senate. According to the website, committees include communications, finance, membership, organizations, scholarship, student concerns and diversity.
Senate meets every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 in the Hughes-Trigg Forum. The meetings are open to everyone and students are encouraged to attend.
Leadership and Community Involvement:
LCI helps students develop skills to become better citizens and engages them through community programs, which focus on each student. The office serves as the hub for two student-led organizations: Leadership Education Activities and Development, and Students Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Citizenship.
LEAD
LEAD is a student-led and -run organization that focuses on developing one’s leadership skills through weekly meetings and a variety of activities. LEAD also plans and hosts four programs for the SMU students and the community.
One of LEAD’s most important programs is Emerging Scholars. This highly selective program focuses on the talents of 50 of SMU’s top first-year students by honing their leadership skills and helping them learn new ones.
