Many students at Cal State Long Beach do not take advantage of the opportunities for campus involvement.
Jason Copeland, a junior, takes four classes each semester and spends about 16 hours a week at school. Full-time college students such as Copeland expect to spend a lot of their waking hours in school or working on school-related activities.
“Time adds up,” Copeland said, “but my involvement hasn’t really.”
According to Diane Taylor, administrative support assistant at the Student Life and Development Center, Long Beach currently has more than 35,000 students enrolled, but only 9,850 of these students are members of campus clubs, Greek life included. Although the number of students involved appears small, approximately 15 clubs are added each year. This year’s count is currently 325 student organizations, according to records at the SLD Center.
Students are encouraged to also start their own clubs if one does not already exist for their interests. Those interested can contact advisers at the center to receive information on how to start a student organization.
With eight coordinators on its staff, the center’s goal is to “live and learn together,” said Miles Nevin, a coordinator. All students are encouraged to participate in campus activities, but Nevin emphasizes a seven-day-campus for live-on students.
However, commuter schools such as CSULB face the challenge of getting off-campus students more involved.
“We try to get everyone to join,” Nevin said.
SLD passes out informational fliers during freshmen and transfer orientations. Copeland vaguely remembers receiving them but has not joined any clubs.
“The clubs I want to join are on days I’m not on campus, so it’s difficult,” he said.
Students who want to participate in the upcoming spring semester can still join existing clubs or create their own. Major events planned for next semester include the Step Show, a student-run dance show, and the 36th annual Pow Wow, a two day American-Indian social celebration.
