With over 400 registered student organizations (RSOs) at Illinois State University, students are likely to find a group that aligns with their passions, skills, and interests. This number continues to grow as new RSOs are formed, creating even more opportunities for students to get involved on campus.
Here are profiles of four of this year’s many new RSOs:
The Artists’ Bridge
The Artists’ Bridge aims to live up to its name by serving as a bridge between artists and other artist RSOs on campus. Its goal is to create a shared community of theatre enthusiasts and to help develop and refine the skills of talented artists.
Carvell Price, a junior acting major and president of The Artists’ Bridge, is dedicated to connecting with students involved in theatre and performance, and to fostering their future growth as artists.
“I want people to see how much we’re a team. It’s a nice, safe space for our freedom with our artistic side. That’s what we represent as an organization,” Price said.
The Artists’ Bridge will team up with other RSOs for various showcases, offer workshops to enhance skills in acting, singing, film, and more, and develop their own projects from class.
“Before we officially became an RSO, we were working with other RSOs and having mini-workshops to create buzz for this bigger concept. We want to keep this momentum going,” Price said.
Meetings will take place at Milner Library, and times will vary. For more information about events and meetings, follow The Artists’ Bridge on Instagram.
“We prioritize the school first and the community first. And I feel like going back to our roots is important for building a strong foundation,” Price said.
The next goal for The Artists’ Bridge is to host an open house September 16 at Milner Library. This event will bring together individuals from various artistic backgrounds to discuss their involvement with our organization, participate in activities, and get people acquainted.
You can also meet many of the members at the School of Theatre and Dance‘s Mainstage production of Medea. Nearly the entire board is participating, both on stage and behind the scenes. There will be showings on October 11-13 and 16-19 at the Center for the Performing Arts.
Black Entertainment Experience
Sophomore financial accounting major Amiya Smart sought to create an organization that gives a voice to underrepresented groups. The Black Entertainment Experience RSO aims to provide a safe space and create a sense of community for people of color.
“I want to help people get more involved and support them in reaching out for resources and things like that. I have found my voice, so if people need help with resources during their college career, instead of making them feel like they’re alone, we have a community behind them. So, that’s what my RSO is about,” Smart said.
By the end of the school year, Smart aims to have at least 30 active members. The organization focuses less on set meeting times and more on building a community. Members can look forward to playing games together, attending campus events, forming friendships, and sharing resources like career fairs and various development opportunities. Additionally, Smart places a strong emphasis on mentoring freshman members.
“We want to hear the ideas of the freshmen. We want to hear what they need, so we can be their voice; we didn’t know about many of the resources available to us when we were freshmen,” Smart said.
Follow Black Entertainment Experience on Instagram for more details and updates.
Brilliant Ocean
Students are increasingly seeking real-world experiences while working toward their degree to better prepare for a successful career post-graduation. Combine this with a passion for music and a desire to help others, and you get Brilliant Ocean.
Brilliant Ocean is an RSO focused on instructing middle school show choir at Thomas Metcalf School twice a week. More importantly, it aims to instill confidence in the participants.
Preston Pratali, a sophomore music education major and president of Brilliant Ocean, has been developing this idea of bringing together individuals who share a passion for teaching and music to prepare for their education careers since last March.
“There are so many teachers out there who are going to do so much good in the world. Why not give them a head start?” Pratali said.
Brilliant Ocean will meet three times a week: once for logistics and updates, and twice, on Mondays and Wednesdays, for show choir classes. Although the club focuses on music and education, it welcomes passionate individuals from all backgrounds.
“If you know your skills, I will find a role for you where you can showcase and apply your ideas, making a real impact,” Pratali said.
Follow Brilliant Ocean on Instagram to get involved.
Business Analytics Society
The importance of analytical skills has become increasingly evident with the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and new technologies. Alyssa Bischoff, senior advanced marketing analytics major and president of Business Analytics Society, had a striking moment of inspiration: the idea to reestablish Business Analytics Society at Illinois State.
“I wanted to create this club for young undergraduates or anyone about to start a career to learn more about what they’ll be doing. And if someone is choosing between sequences or selecting a new major, this club can really stand out,” Bischoff said.
The goal of Business Analytics Society is to educate its members about data analytics and its application in business. The organization plans to host guest speakers and conduct workshops offering hands-on experience with industry tools such as Tableau, Excel, Alteryx, and Python. This RSO is open to all majors and educational backgrounds.
“We want to ensure that people are learning more about the field of analytics, because you might not be familiar with it, and it is rapidly growing. This is a great club to learn more from professional speakers about what they do as analysts or data scientists,” Bischoff said.
Business Analytics Society will meet biweekly on Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. in the State Farm Hall of Business, Room 133, starting September 9.
“(Joining this RSO) is a great opportunity for people to come together, discuss the field, network, and gain valuable insights that they can apply to their studies,” Bischoff said.
Students can join Business Analytics Society’s GroupMe or follow their Instagram for more information.
