The University of New Mexico’s student clubs and organizations set up their tents and perfected their elevator pitches for Student Organization Day, on Thursday, Aug. 22,. The event occurs annually on campus during “Welcome Back” week.
Student Organization Day features countless opportunities for incoming and current Lobos to become involved in a plethora of academic and social extracurriculars. This year, the Daily Lobo interviewed various groups facilitating their outreach towards interested and prospective club members.
Emily Ganley, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, was representing the Society of Women Engineers, of which she is the current president. The club aims to encourage science, technology, engineering and math fields as potential career options for women, and to further the progress of women in these occupations.
“We provide our members with networking opportunities, scholarships, training programs, conferences, and more,” Ganley said. “We also volunteer with K-12 outreach programs to give back to our community by getting local kids excited about STEM!”
The club is open to members of all genders, majors, and stages of life. An informational ice cream social will be held on Sept. 4 in the STAMM room of the Centennial Science and Engineering Library at 5:30 p.m. Interested students can refer to the club’s website (swe.unm.edu) or the club’s Instagram page (@sweunm) for more information.
For students wishing to take a breath of fresh air from academia, UNM’s Mountaineering Club is a more than promising option. Max Herrmann, a nursing major and current vice president of the club, said that the program allows students to delve into mountain climbing, biking, hiking and skiing.
The club plans trips each year to various outdoor venues, which cost a combined total of thirty dollars maximum per semester. All club members are encouraged to test their limits regardless of experience; in fact, the club hosts trips specific to individuals’ comfort levels to ensure safety and proper enjoyment for all.
“Mountaineering Club is a great way to meet cool people and experience beautiful scenery. For example, last year we took a trip to Red Rocks, Nevada, and Joshua Tree, California,” Herrmann said.
Meetings occur on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in a location yet to be determined. Interested students can refer to the club’s Facebook (UNM Mountaineering) or Instagram (@unmtnclub) for more information.
Other active clubs include Men’s and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club and Badminton Club.
Men’s and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee is an ideal way for students to unwind in a low-stress yet high-energy environment. The club meets every Tuesday and Thursday on Johnson field from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. For more information, interested students can refer to the club’s website (ultimate.unm.edu).
On the other hand, Badminton Club is a recent development, as it was founded last semester. Interested students can email maritzachavez@unm.edu, tmurali@unm.edu, or summadi@unm.edu for more information about club practices.
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For aspiring medical students wishing to receive guidance on their futures, UNM Pre-Medical Society is there to assist. AnaLisa Ortiz, a junior pre-medical student double majoring in biochemistry and biology, is the current president of the club.
According to Ortiz, the purpose of the Pre-Medical Society is to offer interested students invaluable resources to bolster medical school applications and exercise their pre-medical ambitions early on.
“We offer information and opportunities for volunteering and shadowing to help connect our members to better resources to get into medical school,” Ortiz said.
Pre-Medical Society will be meeting every other Thursday starting September 5 at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Building. Interested students can refer to the club’s website (premed.unm.edu), Facebook (UNM Pre-Medical Society), or Instagram (Pre-Medical Society UNM).
However, there are plenty of UNM clubs sponsoring interests in humanities majors as well. One such program is the Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Student Association (SCUSA,) of which Sierra Venegas, a sophomore majoring in Sociology, is the president and founder.
The club aims to provide a productive space for sociology and criminology majors to deepen their relationship both with their majors and their fellow club members. According to Venegas the club is “focused on academic development, professional development, and career development, as well as networking to apply these theories to the real world.”
SCUSA meetings will be held every other Wednesday, in which officer positions will also be discussed. For more details on the meetings and leadership opportunities, students can refer to the club’s Instagram page (@scusaunm).
For musically inclined students who wish to apply their talents for a worthy cause, Healing Harmonies UNM presents itself as the perfect opportunity. Neel Debgupta, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, stated that the club promotes service through music by playing a variety of instruments at old age homes and peace festivals.
“If you want to play The Beatles or Sinatra for about five hours a month at an old age home, this is the club for you,” Debgupta said. “It makes people happy and it’s a lot of fun overall.”
Debgupta stressed that all levels of musical aptitude are welcome. Healing Harmonies UNM will practice every Wednesday. For more information on the time and location of these meetings, students can refer to the club’s Instagram page (@healingharmoniesunm).
Of course, there is a club for any and all interests UNM students may have. For a full list of UNM student organizations, refer to sac.unm.edu.
Beatrice Nisoli is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @BeatriceNisoli.
