This year’s spring involvement fair at Winthrop University saw some of the 160 student organizations on campus raise awareness about what they do, with everything from Greek life to marketing to skydiving being represented.
60 of Winthrop’s student organizations set up in Richardson Ballroom last Thursday to talk to students who were interested in getting more involved on campus. Students who attended the event approached clubs and organizations with any questions they had about joining a group.
The student organizations signed up new members and explained more about what their organizations do.
Director of the DiGiorgio Campus Center Alicia Marstall oversaw the event and said that 60 organizations were the maximum amount of organizations the venue could hold. Marstall and staff provided drinks and snacks such as Krispy Kreme donuts to students that were present at the event.
“The event is a great way for new students to come out and meet representatives from some of our student organizations to see what they have to offer,” Marstall said.
One of the organizations represented was the Winthrop American Marketing Association, whose purpose is to help students learn to succeed in business environments during their time at the university and beyond. This is executed by hosting events and networking with those working in the business world. Winthrop AMA hosts events for members to teach other students new ideas in the marketing and business field.
“It is all about branding yourself as a professional,” said Madelyn Ashwell, a senior at Winthrop and social media coordinator for Winthrop AMA.
The purpose of Winthrop’s chapter of the Association of Black Social Workers is to highlight academic achievements as well as professional awards. This is done through community involvement with a focus on creating a group of students who can help previous and current members obtain jobs and internships.
Shawanda Erby is a second year graduate student and the president of the Association of Black Social Workers. Erby described the purpose of the organization as sharing “awareness on issues that African Americans face every day. Our goal is to create opportunities for open dialogue about those issues and become advocates for those facing injustice.” The Association of Black Social Workers is actively looking for new members who “are dedicated to investment in the black community.”
The Winthrop Student Environmental Action Coalition’s purpose is to bring awareness to environmental issues. The group has worked with the university to create alternatives for a more eco-friendly campus. The group participates in litter clean-ups both on-campus and off-campus, working in the university’s community garden and educating peers through events about the environment.
Sarah Mulligan, junior and co-president of SEAC, said that the aim of the group is “educating Winthrop students, and helping them get active in their community in events such as campus clean ups and getting students more aware of the climate crisis that is happening in the world.” The group places focus on both local and global environmental issues. The group is looking for eager, and motivated students who want to learn.
“We really want to get our numbers up at our meetings which are on Tuesdays, any major is welcome to join,” Mulligan said.
SEAC helped the Office of Sustainability plant flowers in the pollinator garden on Campus Green in Oct. 2019 and raised money for the Winthrop beehive in Nov. 2019 through T-shirt sales.
Photo: Ann Marie/ The Johnsonian
