Student clubs gathered in University Centre last week as the University of Manitoba Students’ Union held its winter Get Involved campaign Jan. 23 to 24 and Jan. 26 to 27.
UMSU vice-president student life Tracy Karuhogo explained that the Get Involved campaign was created to help students learn about opportunities to participate in campus activities.
Karuhogo said that the Get Involved campaign last week focused on student clubs and associations. She said that there was a significant increase in the number of clubs and associations that participated in tabling compared to the fall semester’s Get Involved campaign.
She said that the campaign is normally held during the first few weeks of a new term because students tend to look for communities and groups to join before becoming set in a routine, and before their coursework intensifies.
Karuhogo said that student engagement and interest in the event throughout the week was good, as many students approached tables, asked questions and signed up for various clubs.
During the fall semester Get Involved campaign, clubs were set up outside around the Duckworth Quad. After receiving feedback from clubs, the winter event was moved to the inside of University Centre to help increase student-club interaction.
Karuhogo noted the wide variety of clubs for students at the U of M focusing on culture, hobbies, faculty-specific issues and more. She added that students can start their own clubs if there are none that currently support their interests.
She encourages all students to participate in life on campus through student clubs.
“Joining clubs definitely exposes you to new cultures, new friends, new skills and it definitely builds your CV, so I would encourage students to get involved,” she said.
The University of Manitoba Filipino Students’ Association (UMFSA) was one of the many clubs tabling in University Centre during last week’s event.
Sebastian Dio, a member of UMFSA, described the club as a place for students to get to know each other in a relaxed environment.
He explained that each of the club’s monthly events are typically centred around Filipino culture. Some of the activities they have held in the past include bowling and movie nights.
Dio said that the Get Involved campaign helped promote UMFSA, as many students approached its booth and asked questions about the club and its activities.
UMPremed, a club for undergraduate students who are planning to pursue medicine in the future, also tabled in the recent Get Involved campaign.
Mercy Arowolo, the club’s director of communications, said that the club aims to provide its members with information about the journey toward medical school through activities such as orientations and presentations from students already studying medicine.
The University of Manitoba Chinese Students and Scholars Association was also among the clubs tabling last week.
Jiahao Zou, the group’s media and promotion director, described the club as a place for Chinese students to build community and get to know each other. Zou said that studying in a foreign country as an international student can be difficult, and so creating a sense of community can help improve students’ lives and their studies.
Since the return of in-person classes, clubs have been able to resume activities and hold social events. According to UMSU’s website, there are currently 50 clubs recognized by UMSU for students to participate in.
