MU has more than 600 recognized student organizations, and it can be easy to get lost in the middle of it all. From religious to cultural minority groups, finding a perfect fit doesn’t have to be so hard.
Although the involvement fair season is almost over, there is always a way to find out about different organizations that speak to you. MU offers a long list of different groups at (getinvolved.missouri.edu)[https://getinvolved.missouri.edu/] and it’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for posters or signs around campus promoting meetings and events. One can also try the Center for Student Involvement at the upper level of the MU Student Center.
The purpose of these student organizations is to connect people that have something in common, such as a cultural identity or ideology, and also to give that identity back to the community.
The Asian American Association introduces people with similar cultural backgrounds and promotes events for its members to share their experiences.
“It gave me a chance to explore my own identity and also taught me how to be [an] advocate for Asian Americans,” Alice Yu, senior advisor for the Asian American Association, otherwise known as Triple A, said. “It taught me not only about Asian American issues but also social justice issues in general, how to recognize and to respond to them and create a better and more equitable future.”
AAA, like many other organizations, has general body meetings where they go through upcoming events and discuss topics regarding their theme, such as cultural identity and the LGBTQ community. But these student groups can also go beyond cultural roots or interests, focusing on politics, religion and even on a specific major.
The Feminist Student Union focuses on reaching out to marginalized communities and works as an umbrella organization, having connections with more specific groups like Mizzou for Planned Parenthood.
“We do different events involving advocacy, activism and education,” Rachel Brinkmann, an executive board member of the MU Feminist Student Union, said. “I think it’s really cool to meet other people that are passionate about social justice and different facets of life or identities. It’s great to learn about different experiences.”
It is also important to know that these organizations are not limited to a specific group of people. FSU, for example, is open for people of all gender and sexual identities and AAA is not only for students with an Asian American background.
Full descriptions, meeting dates and times can all be found at the organizations’ OrgSync pages, as well as its members’ contact information. However, if identifying with one of those groups seems difficult, you can always create your own organization.
_Edited by Alexandra Sharp | asharp@themaneater.com_