Make it Happen!: Getting Involved

By Arabella Chamberlain

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Sometimes I just want to block all those constant emails about joining Anime Club or Physics Club's weekly reminder that they're having "Physics Ph-ridays" as I once saw their ice cream social called (who's in charge of marketing? They never run out of ways to hype this event). This is not because I have something against Anime or I'm lactose-intolerant, but simply because it's overwhelming the insane number of emails clubs send out hoping you'll join. Is it worth it?

Getting involved on campus can be daunting, even as an upperclassman. You've already got your friends and even though you might think that one club is super cool, you're worried you won't fit in or have time. It's understandable. But there are many benefits to joining a club or two on campus. Getting yourself out there opens up opportunities to meet new people, try new things, and can sometimes even lead to leadership. To quote the rather cheesy slogan, "Coe makes it possible... You make it happen" - when you go out and get involved!

Crash Course for Getting Involved:

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• Bring a friend... but don't let that hold you back from meeting new people! It can be easy to just stick close to your friend, but try to find someone you've never met or don't know as well to sit with. It might be out of your comfort zone at first, but who knows? Maybe you'll both make friends and can introduce each other.
• Start small. If you're unsure if you'll like the club, just sign up for their emails or drop by an event they host. You don't have to go to their meetings right away! If you know someone already in the club, ask them what it's like at their meetings or meet some of their friends in the club.
• Don't overcommit! It's just as easy to have the opposite problem of the Social Butterfly, which is jumping into one too many clubs and taking on every leadership position possible. While it's great to get experience as a club officer, try not to take on more than one or two officer positions at a time. Remember, academics come first and you can't do that if all your study time is spent in meeting after meeting after meeting.
• Be open-minded. Try lots of different clubs - even ones you think you won't like! You might be surprised that the first club you try might not be one you stick with. You might give Math Club a try and realize you love their game nights (even though 58% of people there just want math culture points). You might join the Offstage Players and realize you have a call to the spotlight.
• Have fun! The whole point of clubs in your college career is to give you opportunities to make friends, meet new people and do things you might never get to do again in your life. Many say "these are the best four years of your life," and who are we to disagree? We haven't seen the other side yet, but the grass might not be greener in the professional business world. I bet they don't have "Ice Cream Fri-Yays" (Did I mention the endless ways Physics Club markets?). Enjoy your time here.

Although I often just glance at all those emails from clubs, to quote the recent production of Sheltered on campus, "you never know what you'll find unless you look."

Get involved!

The Sophomore Slump: Your Community

by Arabella Chamberlain

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When fighting off the sophomore slump, you might not realize how important your community is. The people around you, your support and your encouragement can have a big impact on how well you take on the sophomore slump. Getting involved in new things and staying in touch with old friends can truly be a make or break of your year. I've compiled a list below of some of the ways you can get involved on campus and find your place in the COE-mmunity. Clever, right?

Your COE-mmunity:

• Student Senate:  Want to have your voice heard on campus? Come to Senate meetings, Wednesdays 7pm @ Cherry Auditorium, even if you're not a senator. Or be bold and run for a senate seat! This is a great opportunity to meet people from all over campus with a plethora of majors represented. Make the changes you want to see on campus!

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• Greek Life:  Might seem like it's not your thing, but don't knock it til you try it! Here on Coe's campus we have some of the best Greek life. With chapters from 4 sororities and 5 fraternities, there's definitely some place you can call home. 
• Clubs:  Join a club! Coe has an insane number of clubs on campus and they're constantly emailing to remind you about all their events. Just try stopping by a meeting or two. Go to an event you wouldn't normally go to and maybe you'll find something you really like! Take the first step to getting involved and it's easier once you get started.
• Volunteering:  This is such a great way to reach out into the community. Whether on-campus or off, volunteer is not only good for those around you, but good for you! Reach out to local charities and volunteer-based organizations and see how you can help out.



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• Cedar Rapids:  Take advantage of the amazing city we live in and explore Cedar Rapids. There are countless restaurants and shops and things to do in downtown Cedar Rapids. Visit a museum, stop by NewBo city market, shop at Raygun - don't miss out on the hustle and bustle of the city!
• Theatre/Music/Arts:  Speaking of downtown, take a peek at the nightlife. Music and theatre opportunities are abundant in this area. Head to a local show and support some artists. Be on the lookout for upcoming concerts and grab a friend to go! On-campus, there are plenty of things to do too! SAC is constantly bringing in artists to perform and TheatreCoe does amazing works - and in fact, has a show coming up! Get tickets at the box office in Upper Gage.
• Sports:  If you don't already play a sport, Coe has lots of fun intramurals you can join. Get active and get connected at the same time. Get in the team spirit and have fun! Or if you'd rather not be on the field, maybe even just go support friends in sports. Go Kohawks!
• Res Life/Learning Commons:  Don't ignore the resources just waiting there for you to use them. Check out some of the exciting residence life events that the residence life staff work so hard to plan. Or maybe stop by the Learning Commons just to chat with someone and get to know people who can help you succeed when times get rough. 
• Internship/Job/Research:  Maybe you want to get a head start for after graduation. If that's the case, look into a local internship or job. Or maybe find out if any of your professors are doing research you can get involved in. These are good ways to make connections for down the road and helps to get a taste of the professional life.

No matter what way you get involved in the community, just make sure you get involved! The benefits are amazing and a great way to get over that sophomore slump. Find your COE-mmunity!

More Information:
Student Experiences in the Second Year

Do you feel you have a voice on campus?

Absolutely! I can easily express my opinions to my colleagues.

Kinda... Sometimes I think my voice isn't heard.

Not really. I can't easily express my opinions to my colleagues on campus.

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Get Outdoors 6: Outdoors at Coe

By Paige Waskow

     Want to get involved on campus? Or maybe you want to go on trips but you don’t have the gear or transportation to get there? There are many clubs and opportunities on campus that get you outside and involved! Clubs such as environmental club, outdoors club, and rock climbing club are open to anyone who wants to join.

     In addition, the Alumni Garden is a great space to relax and spend time outside and alone. If you need a break from people or just need some quiet time, the garden is open throughout the week to anyone. The garden also has The Garden Quarto, which is a collection of poems and short stories that is published twice a year. You can enter your short compositions, and they may be in the next issue!

Check it out here!

This is the final post for Get Outdoors! 

Thank you for reading, and I hope that this series has helped encourage you to want to go outside and given you some resources to do so. If you are interested in learning more about why we need to spend time outside, please leave any questions you may have below. Be sure to add any opportunities at Coe you have found that aren’t mentioned here that you think others would enjoy.

Get Outdoors 1: An Introduction

By Paige Waskow

We all value the outdoors.

     Perhaps you read that sentence and completely disagree. You hate bugs, the hot weather, the rain or something in between. But it is true that there is something we all like about it. You may be an outdoor adventurer, rock climbing tall mountains or camping in complete isolation from society. You may be repulsed by the idea of being outside, but you enjoy fake indoor plants and flower tapestries. Perhaps you are somewhere in between, a potted plant is alright and you will take a walk outside once and awhile. Maybe you don’t even think about it on a daily basis.

     But the thing is, as humans, there is something we deem as aesthetic, beautiful, or free about nature and the wilderness. We take pictures of it and post it on social media, we turn it into football fields and golf courses, we make headbands out of flowers and deem their wearers as having a free spirit. But why is that? Why are we so obsessed with nature, and what does or can it really provide for us? 

     In this blog series, we will discuss the importance of nature for our mentality and well being. We will look at how it shapes what we value and want in our world, and how it could even change your work habits. From there, you can learn about the types of nature around you and how you can engage with it. Whether you want to camp, canoe, go on a hike, plant tomatoes, or buy local produce, this series will cover it.