By Hailey Murphy
It’s fall quarter here at Western, which means it’s time to embark on a new school year. If you’re looking to enrich your college experience and become more active on campus, now’s the perfect time. There’s boundless potential, between 200 AS clubs and 200 committee positions and dozens of programs. So whether you’re new to Western, or you’re returning for another year, here are some opportunities to get more involved on your campus.
Ethnic Student Center
The Ethnic Student Center (ESC) is a vital community on campus that works to empower minority students and their allies. It’s composed of many clubs, as well as its physical location on the fourth floor in the Viking Union (soon to be under renovation). They provide comfortable chairs, computers, desks, supplies and support staff. All students are welcome to come do their homework, take a break between classes or hang out. ESC provides this inclusive space so students may explore their cultural heritage and experience their culture with others.
The ESC is also composed of clubs that celebrate cultural identity. A few of these clubs include the Filipino-American Student Association, South Asian Student Association, Black Student Union, Blue Group and more. These clubs provide volunteer opportunities, inclusive spaces, networking opportunities and heritage exploration. You can find a full list of ESC clubs and their contact information on the AS web page, or you can find these clubs at the info fair Sept. 25 and 26 in Red Square.
For more information about getting involved with the ESC and upcoming events, , there is an open house in Viking Union 420 on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There, you will learn more about ESC and their variety of opportunities, including a life-changing retreat to Camp Casey in October.
Representation and Engagement Programs
Representation and Engagement Programs (REP) are working to have student voices represented in government. Whether it’s at a local, state or federal level, they encourage students to fulfill their civil duties and provide resources necessaryfor everyone’s voice to be heard.
ABOVE: Western Votes helps students become more involved in the decisions that affect them and the community. Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review.
One aspect of REP is Western Votes, an organization run by students that advocates for political participation. The organization is nonpartisan, and thus they do not promote specific legislation. Instead, they promote civic engagement and political involvement. Western Votes also is a part of the Washington Student Association, which represents colleges in the state to make policy changes and improve higher learning. If you’re interested in participating in politics, you can join Western Votes by emailing as.voting.coordinator@wwu.eduwith the subject line “I want to join Western Votes”, or you can also join by visiting the REP office in Viking Union 435.
However, if you’re interested in a rather specific issue, you can apply to join a committee through the REP. There are 200 seats available for students on both AS and University committees. These committees make decisions on all aspects of campus life: student fees, campus sustainability, health services, award recipients and much more. Joining a committee can give you the opportunity to work with faculty, gain professional experience and make important decisions that affect our campus. There’s a complete list of available committees on the AS website, as well as an application to join. All applications are reviewed by the AS Board of Directors for approval.
Environmental and Sustainability Programs
The Environmental and Sustainability Programs (ESP) is in charge of sustainable practices on campus, including the Sustainable Action Fund, the Outback Farm and the Environmental Center. Through these programs students can follow their passion for the environment and improve campus’ sustainability.
If you have an idea for how to reduce Western’s environmental impact, you have the opportunity to make that idea a reality. The Sustainable Action Fund (SAF) is a student-initiated, quarterly fee that pays for environmental improvements on campus.
After meeting up at a SAF idea lab, project teams must meet with SAF program coordinators, research the logistics of their project and create a proposal. Accepted projects can receive grants from $500 to $300,000. SAF projects have brought a number of sustainable practices to campus, such as water bottle refill stations, power-producing stationary bikes, a hydroponics aquarium and festiv
als that benefit climate research. If you have an idea that benefits campus sustainability, visit Western’s sustainability website.
However, if you wish to learn more about sustainable land-use, then Western has the perfect place for you, right on campus.
BELOW: Head out to Western’s Lakewood property for fun outdoor activities. Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review.
The Outback is a farm and wetland restoration site just south of Fairhaven residences, designed to provide students with outdoor, hands-on education. The program is produced both by the Associated Students and the Fairhaven College. Students can participatein habitat restoration, organic gardening and green building. The Outback also offers opportunities for academic partnerships, independent study projects, workshops, lectures and classes. So whether you’re looking for potential job training or simply are looking to garden, the Outback is for you. You c
an find Outback events and the work party schedule on the Associated Students website.
Your opportunities to be a part of our sustainable campus don’t end there! There’s also the AS Environmental Center, which works to facilitate communication between environmental clubs and programs. They put on events to encourage sustainability, and they have a vast library of resources for those interested in learning more about the environment.
The EC also provides internships. It’s an opportunity to gain professional experience, get connected to the AS and engage in environmental discussions. Applications are due by Oct. 14 at 5 p.m., and can be found on the AS website.
The Outdoor Center
One of Bellingham’s greatest treasures is the wilderness. You can scale the side of a mountain, take a kayak out on the lake or simply go on a nice hike — Bellingham has it all.
ABOVE: The AS provides many opportunities for students to get involved on campus. Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review.
However, if you don’t have the right skills or right equipment, then you can visit the AS Outdoor Center. They can rent equipment out from the VU and from Lakewood, Western’s own piece of Lake Whatcom.
But if you are passionate about the outdoors and want to be more involved on campus, the Outdoor Center is more than a rental service. They hold excursions every quarter, with a range of dif
ficulties and activities. Excursions can be weekly events, instructional courses (which can vary from a few hours to a few days) or day trips.
Some of the fall excursions include weekly moonlight hikes, the basics of backpacking, a sunset snowshoe and North Cascades kayaking. These excursions help students develop their outdoor skills, practice environmental responsibility, meet new people and deepen their academic experience. Signups for fall excursions begin on the first day of class, with excursions ranging from $20 to $170—or you can take weekly yoga classes for free!
Volunteer Opportunities
Western is a school that strives to give back to its community, offering many opportunities for students to volunteer. While many volunteer opportunities arise through the work of clubs and previously discussed AS programs, there are a few more options available on campus.
AS provides six different centers that work as resource and outreach services. These include the Social Issues Resource Center, the Womxn’s Center, the Queer Resource Center, the Legal Resource Center, the Disability Outreach Center and the Veteran Outreach Center. These programs work to educate and support students by holding events and offering resources. Students may find solace in these programs, or may participate in the cause by volunteering. You can find more information about the Resource and Outreach Programs and their upcoming events on the AS website.
For those who may be interested in radio, you can volunteer to work as part of KUGS-FM! Western’s own radio station is operated by student volunteers who are driven by a passion for music and a desire to connect Western to the surrounding community. KUGS will train volunteers on how to operate the radio station and run their own music program. They’ll also teach you to report on local news that matters to students. For anyone interested on being part of the KUGS team, you can pick up an application at the station, located in VU 700.
Clubs
While Western’s student body is diverse, there are still a lot of similarities between all of us. We have artists, dancers, comedians, environmentalists, readers, scientists, movie lovers and everything in between. AS clubs offer the opportunity for people with like interests to come together. With over 200 clubs, you’re bound to find the right club for you. But even if you don’t, you can start your own!
Do you like to play sports? There are over 20 Western sport club teams. Do you wish to celebrate your cultural heritage? There are 17 clubs that are a part of the ESC. Are you pre-law, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry or pre-veterinary? There are clubs for you too.
Western clubs are even making some impact in the real world. The Dead Parrots Society was ranked the nation’s fourth best college improv troupe in 2014. Blue Group, a club for undocumented students, is lobbying for Bellingham to become a sanctuary city. Students for the Salish Sea, in their pilot year, were part of the effort that stopped a liquefied natural gas plant from being built on Lelu Island, thus preventing further destruction of local salmon populations.
For a complete list of clubs, visit the AS website, or go to the info fair in Red Square, Sept. 25 and 26.
Featured photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review