Campus Interaction is Up to You!

BY BRITTANY, PANTHER BLOGGER

The first thing many students say about campus life is that there is nothing to do, but in reality, there are a lot of activities and clubs. It’s just up to each student to find something that is within their interest. Through several forms of communication, including the Panther Press or campus e-mails, students can find out about academic clubs and organizations, fraternities and sororities, performing arts, religious organizations, sports teams, and work study opportunities. No matter what you are interested in, there is something for you around campus; it is just a matter of taking the step to get out of your room and interact with others.

The clubs and organizations on campus consist of over 60 different academic, honorary, social, and service groups that all host two major club fairs each year to introduce students to the variety of organizations available. One of these fairs is where I, personally, was introduced to Minds-n-Medicine and Relay for Life. The clubs meet according to the time that most members are available to get together at several different locations. As a team, students come up with ideas to promote that group throughout campus, as well as organize other meetings, schedule guest speakers, and go to other locations for further knowledge on a topic of discussion.

Relay for Life

As a part of Relay for Life last year, one of the first opportunities we had to spread the word about the organization was through the parade that went around campus on homecoming weekend. My friend and I blew up balloons, tied ribbons, hung signs, and used window chalk on every window of my car at the time. We spent all morning preparing for the lap around school that lasted about ten minutes, blasting our music and honking our horn. The theme for Relay for Life during that time was "WTF" meaning Win The Fight, which was our biggest slogan on the windows to try and get more attention brought to the group. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to represent such a great organization, and would do it again in a heartbeat if the chance comes again.

Greek Life

Sorority girls doing a bake sale

Greek life is a large interest on campus with quite a few fraternities and sororities, such as Omega Chi Sigma (OXE), Kappa Alpha Sigma (KAE), Mu Sigma Chi (MEX), Delta Phi Epsilon (DPhiE), just to name a few. They introduce students to stepping out of their social norm and going through several weeks of pledging to be initiated into the group, according to Corey Andrews, a pledge to OXE.


Intramural Sports
Intramural sports provide an active environment with interaction between fellow students and even some staff members. Teams include softball, volleyball, bowling, basketball, kickball, soccer, tennis, flag football, and powder puff football. Students get a group together and play several rounds of the sport until the “knock out” level to establish the final winning team. I am currently involved in an intramural volleyball team that consists of other students that all have a little background playing the sport but just want to have something to do for fun. It is a good way to get your mind off other stresses and have fun for awhile playing the best two out of three games. During the fall, I also take part in the powder puff football team in which a group of several girls get together and play another team at flag football. Yes, it is a football team of girls who can be very competitive, although many rules prevent students from getting too rough, like a normal football game.

Opportunities at a Small College

Work-study co-workers at the campus Starbucks

Being a smaller school, Ferrum allows for more opportunity to get involved with performing arts, religious affiliations, and work study. Samantha Franklin, a student interested in performing arts, says “There is more opportunity for underclassman to perform than they would at a larger school.” Religious organizations and activities are also available at different times of the week, including Bible studies and then church services on both Sunday morning and also on Monday night for anyone unable to attend the morning service. Work study is a grant program provided by Ferrum to students who have financial aid allotted to receive minimum wage for working for one of the departments on campus. It is a wonderful program to allow students to get introduced to the professional environment for when they get out of school and take part in a “real world” job.

Ferrum College, a liberal arts school, provides many opportunities for students to interact and get involved with various activities at different times of the week. It is simply up to them to take a step and find something they want to be involved in since there is always something to do. The time spent at this school will only be as interesting and meaningful as we make it for ourselves.