It used to be that "joining" anything had a bit of a dorky edge to it, but there has been a definite shift in attitudes toward joining. Now it has more of the air of "stepping up" or "contributing" to the greater good, or, at the very least, acting on our social instincts by being part of the group, the clan . . . the human race.
At UW-Manitowoc "joining" is, in most cases, pretty effortless. If you put your name and contact information on the sign-up sheet (located in the curved corridor on the way to the Commons) for, say, Future Teachers, or Extreme Outdoors, or Goin' Green, or Sheepshead Anonymous, or any of the dozen or so active campus organizations, someone from the group will contact you to let you know when and where the organizational meeting will be taking place. You show up. You check it out. You decide if there is something in it for you, and you take it from there. If you didn't sign up for anything in advance, you are still welcome to attend meetings and join at a later date. Just check out the TV message monitors for meeting times and places.
Privileges come with joining:
#1) It's a very competitive world out there. Being involved in clubs and organizations can give you an edge. At the very least, active participation in a club or organization tells the person looking at your resume down the road that you're the type of person that does more than what's required. And that's always a good thing.
#2) Participation in co-curriculars--athletics, clubs, service programs, creative and performing arts, student government, pre-professional organizations--provides you with opportunities to build your interpersonal communication and leadership skills, and establishes important networks of information and support.
#3) You meet people with common interests and don't have to go through eHarmony.
#4) Joiners (engaged students) get better grades. It's true. They do.
#5) It's frequently fun. Sometimes exciting. Occasionally demanding. Often rewarding. And, frequently FUN.
At a small campus like this, it is very easy to get involved. And, really, it's a win-win-win sort of thing.
