by Sarah Combs
Get Connected—what is the first thing that comes to your mind? If you’re a freshman, maybe you only came for your JUD 101 class, and if you’re an upperclassman, maybe you came because you are a part of the club and you had to. But maybe you came because you really wanted to feel a part of the Judson community. Join a club or organization and really feel more connected to the rest of the student body and the faculty. Some of the clubs and organizations we have here on campus are the Drama Club (also known as the Judson Players), History Club, Criminal Justice Club (also known as the Justice League), and Psychology Club just to name a few. We also have SGA and Campus Ministries. The best part about all these clubs is that you don’t even have to major or minor in them; just your interest is all they ask of you.
Many new students came to Get Connected which was on September 10, at 4 p.m. in The J. They were all asking the students in charge of the booths questions about the clubs and organizations that they were interested in and many signed up for them as well. One freshman, Lela Ball, signed up to be a part of the English Club and the Judson Players. Lela told me that she wants to be in the English Club because she loves to write, and she wants to write for The Scrimshaw and even The Triangle. “But maybe next year,” she said, “I have too much going on this semester.” She goes on to say, “the reason I want to be a part of the theater club is because I never got to do it in high school and would love to fulfill that dream.”
Next I had a chance to talk to Jr-Soph Jyasmine Torres, a biology major here at Judson. Jyasmine was looking at the biology and theater clubs. She says “I want to be in the theater club because it’s fun and I love to act.” She continued, “I also want to be in the biology club because it’s my major and they are my people.”
These clubs and organizations would not be possible without people being elected to oversee the operations. Kris Bradley, a psychology major, is president of the Psychology Club, sponsored by Dr. Harold Arnold, the psychology professor. Kris tells me, “the Psychology Club exists to help foster the love of all things psychology-related, and to learn about many aspects of the psychology field.” She went on to explain all the fun and exciting trips they are going to take. One of the big trips Kris has in mind for the group is taking a drive up to Tuscaloosa to Bryce Hospital, which has been newly refurbished into a museum. The Psychology Club also plans on watching movies like “Split” to analyze the characters.
What would a college be without theater club, or what is known at Judson as the Judson Players. Kassidy Giles is a graphic design major, and is also the club’s president. She has a huge love for the theater, seeing she has been on stage since she was six years old, so one could say the stage is her second home. The club is sponsored by Dr. Billie Jean Young, who was a member of the original Judson Players, which has been recently formed again. Kassidy tells me “You don’t have to into theater to be in the club, but we do need more actresses.” The club is discussing movie nights in The J, with hot chocolate and other yummy goodies. So if that doesn’t make you want to join, I don’t know what will.
The History Club is sponsored by Dr. Joe Frazer, Judson’s history professor. One activity the History Club includes is participating in the Renaissance fair, which seems fun. They are also a part of the Perry County Historical Society, and have programs so the members can study abroad. Shelby Cranford, president, and Sierra Driver, secretary, told me they plan to make some exciting trips to the Shiloh battlefield and travel to the Parthenon in Nashville.
Have you ever wondered who makes Engage on Monday night so good? Well look no further, it’s Campus Ministries. This group of people is also in charge of spring break missions that some of us go on. Audri Thicklin said “We are planning on creating new activities. We have a girl in the organization who is on a sports team, and she wants us to bring Campus Ministries and sports together.” She continued, “Another activity we are going to do is more student outreach for the campus. We will match an upperclassman with a freshman. We are going to call this ‘prayer partners’.” This idea can be really helpful for some of the freshmen who don’t feel like they fit in. As an upperclassman, I want to help the freshmen and let them know that someone is looking out for their spiritual welfare and will guide them through their college days.
I had a lot of fun getting to learn more about the clubs and organizations that are on this campus, and just because of going to Get Connected, I have joined many clubs, and I hope that many more will too.