West Liberty University has an abundance of clubs and organizations of different interests for students to partake in. These clubs open opportunities for students to find community among shared passions or to gain new skills from activities that they would not have been able to do previously. At the beginning of both spring and fall semesters, WLU holds the Club and Organization Fair for students to engage in and find clubs that interest them. This helps students to have a clear mind of what clubs are available to join on campus. Another helpful thing West Liberty University does to boost clubs is posting Hilltopper Headlines, where an email full of that week’s activities is sent to students along with corresponding dates and locations.
Students are also able to start their own clubs on campus. Alexandria Black, founder of Poetry Club, started her club due to her passion for poetry. She said the club “revolves around the joy of sharing poetic love with each other and ourselves. This, in return, fosters a community bound by this shared community. Plus, new friends who like the same things as you!”
When asked why she enjoys poetry, Black said “poetry serves as a powerful medium for emotional connection and expression. It enables individuals to delve into their feelings, convey profound meanings associated with topics on their minds, or just to have fun and write about things that have no meaning or do not connect without emotions. It helps us better express our thoughts as well.”
One way to learn how to start your own club is by looking at the “Clubs & Organizations – Student Life” page on the West Liberty University website. There, you can find this list of valuable information that can answer questions on what is needed to start your own club. The list follows:
- Complete The Student Organization Registration Form
- Create a constitution
- Recruit a minimum of 5 members
- Secure a university faculty or staff advisor
- Complete an Officer Roster Form
- Complete a Membership Roster
- Complete Social Media Information Form
- Submit Organization Event Form throughout the year
Each step includes a link to their respected form for you to complete. At the end of the page, it lists the email address for Housing & Student Life, as well as the phone number of Kate Billings, the Director of Student Activities/Title IX Coordinator of West Liberty University. Black explained how Billings helped her when starting up Poetry Club.
“Kate Billings played a pivotal role in launching my club, offering invaluable assistance from the beginning,” said Black. “Her ongoing support and frequent check-ins have been instrumental in the club’s success.”
Once the required forms are completed, you must contact someone from the Housing & Student Life about starting your club. Then, those documents must be reviewed by Billings, who will notify you within a week about the status of your club.
When asked what she would say to anyone that wants to start their own club, Black said “embrace the journey! Despite the potential challenges, the fulfillment of witnessing your capacities unfold makes the process immensely rewarding. Just dive in, and the outcomes will be worth the effort.”
