The Current

Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: Opinions

While walking through the quad last Thursday, there were a few things you may have noticed. First, there were at least 50 expo tents where UM-St. Louis student organizations sat out and tabled for their organization, trying to encourage students, new and old, to join their organization.

Another thing you may have noticed, if you are an UMSL veteran, was the incredible turnout of students interested in signing up for student organizations or just walking around, their interests piqued by snow cones, baklava and free pens.

Likewise, at other University Program Board-sponsored Welcome Week events, student turnout was sky high-something very new and different for a campus with "student apathy" issues.

Such was the student interest during this year's Welcome Week events that we are led to question those past issues of student apathy.

The MTV Beach Party at Oak Hall had an excellent turnout, and the people who attended were very obviously having a good time. Students finally seemed interested in the campus events they are paying for in their tuition!

Maybe it is the sky-high gas prices that have students considering spending those extra hours on campus between classes, or the new residential facilities that have been inviting towards incoming freshman and other students exhausted by heinous commutes, but student activity seems to be socking it to apathy.

Give yourselves a pat on the back; student apathy on this campus has long been a troubling issue for involved students who realize how powerfully students can influence university policy and procedure.

Students with different reasons for becoming involved are creating a legacy that harps the importance of being active, even if it is just voting for Student Government president or campus-wide policy and procedure referendums.

However, just because there has been good involvement so far does not mean we have conquered student apathy.

Now that student attention has been grabbed by the events and tabling by student organizations, it is the job of those organizations to keep students interested.

Maintaining organization inside a student organization is key to keeping members and keeping members happy.

A number of students have tried to become involved but have lost interest among disorganized group leaders, disastrous meetings, and failed event plans.

Finally, it seems students are coming together to make student campus life enjoyable and fun. Student organizations are actually getting organized to pursue their group's missions, and students new and old are responding to the new shine of campus involvement.

So give yourselves a high five for winning the first battle of the year against apathy on the UMSL campus, but put a string on your finger to remind yourselves to stay organized, go to organization meetings, and help promote student involvement.

Student life is an important part of college life for many students, and an involved campus outshines other campuses when it comes to recruitment and retaining student numbers. Plus, an active campus is a happy campus, and an all-around better place to hang out in between classes.

Who knows, if we continue to gain empowerment through a student body excited by and driven by involvement, we may even be able to get ice cream machines in the cafeteria.

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