Student Organization | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
Campus leaders discuss the status of student organizations and involvement with motivation for change.
Positive effects of student involvement
A Gallup-Purdue University study shows that engagement among college students leads to higher retention rates, higher graduation rates and improved post-graduation work involvement.
Mariangely Custodio, president of Amigos Latinos Student Association, voiced why the association is personally meaningful beyond highlighting Latino culture, music, dance and art, among other attributes.
“As a Latina, I embrace and love my culture, so it is a part of my everyday life. It gives me a sense of belonging and comfort,” Custodio said.
Alongside the personal benefits of student involvement, there are also interpersonal, professional and educational advantages to joining an organization, according to Debbie Lamp, associate director of student activities.
“The skills and abilities that you learn in a co-curricular activity are immeasurable, and these are the things that employers are looking for,” Lamp said.
The director named the benefits of being able to communicate clearly, work on short notice or tight deadlines and also work with people students usually would not have the opportunity to work with.
Student organizations facing continued difficulties
To Blake Bailey, president of Student Government Association, WSU has hard-working student leaders. Bailey explained one possible reason that current students might struggle to get involved.
“There is a lack of ambition, motivation, drive and grit in our age group, and I think it is due to a gradual decline in our collective health that has accelerated in the past two to three years,” Bailey explained.
The president of SGA hopes to put more emphasis on mental, academic, financial, social, spiritual and environmental health. Bailey explained the importance of each of these factors for student and overall human health.
“When someone is struggling with one of these areas of health, the other areas have to compensate for it,” Bailey explained.
To these ends, Bailey hopes to create new positions in SGA, including a director of student health and wellness.
For more information about SGA, visit the organization’s Engage page. Students can also find more information about Amigos Latinos on Engage.
