Did you know ULM is home to over 300 Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs)? Probably not, because very few have an on-campus presence.

This semester’s record-high enrollment has brought in even more students with unique interests. RSOs provide an opportunity for engagement beyond the classroom, offering students a chance to explore new interests. However, the problem comes from the inactivity of many groups. You can browse through Suitable and find that several organizations do not host any events or meetings. It feels as though students start these RSOs and do nothing with them.

 Freshman computer science major Arhyael Zoaka talked about his experience when he tried to join an organization.

“Even though a chess club was formally mentioned among RSOs, there were no events or meetings. The chess club was dissolved,” Zoaka said. “I’ve always loved chess, and being part of a club would’ve given me a platform to talk about my interests. It would’ve been a good way to deal with the stress from my classes.”

Many organizations, such as volleyball and tennis clubs, no longer exist. Popular activities like basketball, martial arts and badminton never had clubs to begin with.

Getting involved with RSOs can provide several benefits to students, such as relaxing after class, developing various skills and meeting new people. Future employers value leadership roles and participation outside of the classroom.

Many student organizations at ULM have vacant spots, so students should take advantage of this opportunity to become leaders or general members. If no club currently grabs your interest, you can create your own. We need to take the initiative by joining them and bringing life back into ULM’s RSOs.