Moving out to college leaves many students feeling lonely. They may feel separated from communities that are important to them and struggle to find people who have common interests or backgrounds. Organizations and clubs can help students feel less alone and allow them to feel like they have a place to belong to, especially ones centered on students’ identities.
But, what happens when students can’t access these groups? Since the merger of St. Joe’s and University of the Sciences, students on the UCity campus haven’t had adequate access. Identity-based clubs are solely located on Hawk Hill with little presence on the UCity campus, which makes students feel like club leaders don’t consider them. These clubs should make more of an effort to welcome UCity students.
Although unintentional, UCity students often feel they are being left out. The Student Activities lists clubs like Asian American Student Association, Pride Club, Autism Club, SJU Polish Club, Greek American Student Association and more that many students on the UCity campus don’t even know about. Many students said they wished they could participate in club activities but couldn’t attend any.
Many students want to join clubs, but clubs that only meet on one campus and meeting times that don’t consider shuttle schedules end up excluding students.
Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D, director of Student Leadership and Activities, said, “Those five miles and the lack of really easy transportation between our two campuses can really stop students from considering being active on the other campus,” and it’s often not, “even possible given their schedules.”
Club leaders can combat this by holding meetings on both campuses. They shouldn’t expect members to travel between campuses if they aren’t willing to as well.
Making club accessibility better would help both campuses by building a bigger community. Extending a club to the UCity campus means more students can experience that sense of belonging. Identity-based clubs don’t only provide students with a community, but professors as well, who advise students in these clubs with challenges presented because of their identity.
“Having students from both campuses involved in your student [organization] expands your own personal and professional network,” said Havosky.
Clubs at SJU need to make more of an effort to include students on the UCity campus.
“You have to have a presence on each campus,” Hagovsky said, beyond just, “one meeting or a few flyers.”
Club leaders should make clubs more inclusive and available to students. These clubs promote inclusivity, which they themselves lack by not involving people on both campuses. They need to be more accessible to students on both campuses because students who want to join to help expand the community currently feel excluded.
