Finding Your Niche, the Tulane Way: The “There Are 200+ Student Organizations on Campus; Where Do I Possibly Begin?” Blog You’ve All Been Waiting For

           Part of what makes the “Tulane Experience” so magical is the option for students to get involved right from the get-go by joining one (or certainly more than just one) of our over 200 active student organizations. From club sailing to political organizations to service-oriented groups, your options are essentially endless. And in the unlikely event you can’t find something that tickles your fancy? Simply gather a bunch of like-minded individuals willing to organize themselves and present your case to the Undergraduate Student Government and you’re well on the way to becoming a new student organization!

            What’s more is Tulane’s student organizations provide the chance to not only pursue your interests, but also to hone students into young leaders capable of leading large groups of people. These leadership qualities are exactly what make Tulane students so attractive to prospective employers!

           Below you’ll find five general categories of organizations highlighted to better illustrate all that you can encounter at Tulane! THIS BELOW LIST IS BY NO MEANS COMPLETE—rather, it merely scratches the surface of limitless possibilities you will find down here in New Orleans.

      Student Government—

Interested in listening to your fellow students, meeting with administrators, writing and debating legislation, or just generally governing Tulanians? Then take some time to learn about student government. One has many options for becoming involved in the various student government associations in place on campus. Run for the community government of your dorm to test the waters and see if it’s something you’re ready for. Plan banquets for your hallmates, institute new policies for your residents, or simply create new ways of celebrating life in the dorms. If you already know that student governance is for you, then try running for that Senate seat that represents your specific undergraduate school or nominate yourself for a Council Chair position that represents an umbrella of student organizations under you. With that experience under your belt, you can even run for Executive Board positions on either the Undergraduate Student Government (governing undergraduate students) or the Associated Student Body (governing all Tulane students) later on if you’ve proven yourself to your peers and can campaign hard for votes!

 The School of Science and Engineering Student Government hosting their famous Snow Day on the LBC Quad

Green Wave Ambassadors—

Have you toured Tulane yet? Have you heard some of our fabulous tour guides speak candidly about student life on those panels for Destination Tulane? If yes, then you already know about Tulane GWA. Made up of 200 of the most involved, most intelligent, and most outgoing students on campus, our Green Wave Ambassadors are responsible for taking time out of their already busy schedules to share with you exactly why they love Tulane. Now, this job may seem easy because there are so many things to love about Tulane. But this job requires serious commitment. The rewards, though, are outstanding: $5 in Amazon Bucks per tour or special event and tons of travel possibilities to recruit students from all over the country. Interested? Apply during the fall for a chance! 

Just a few of our over 200 student tour guides! 

LGBTQIA/ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Queer, Intersex, Asexual)—

Now, you don’t personally need to identify with this group in order to recognize its importance on campus. Students have many chances to find comfortable spots for themselves. Student organizations under this umbrella provide safe spaces for those who are out and/or questioning their interests. Organizations such as Gamma Rho Lambda and the Tulane Queer Straight Alliance allow students opportunities to learn, grow, and accept, further solidifying the bonds between Tulane students.

Students gathering on the LBC Quad during Pride Week at Tulane

Sports—

Are you a more athletic type? Are you looking for a way to keep in-shape to stave off the Freshman 15 or Tulane 20? If you answered yes to either of the previous questions, then playing a sport could be for you. To put things in perspective, there are three types of organized sport one can play at Tulane: Varsity (Division I sports), Club Sports, and Intramural Sports. The degree of competition varies for each and decreases from varsity to club to intramural. For those star, probably recruited, athletes, varsity sports could be your thing. At Tulane, we have 15 varsity sports teams and a brand new football stadium called Yulman Stadium! For those athletes who seek competition, but don’t have the time commitment, play a club sport. We have over 30 club sport teams, from lacrosse to cricket to quidditch, so there’s bound to be some sport that suits your interests! For those who seek a good time under the guise of working out, try an intramural sport. Over 60% of students participate in intramural sports every year, forming teams through clubs, classes, Greek organizations, and residence halls. Sports include basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer, football, sand and indoor volleyball, tennis, and others.

Nominees on Tulane's Class of 2015 Homecoming Court in Yulman Stadium, Tulane's brand new football complex

CACTUS (Community Action Council for Tulane University Students)/Emergency Response groups—

These organizations provide much needed care and comfort for those at Tulane and those in the city at large. CACTUS is the council under which all student organizations whose main focus is community outreach fall. At Tulane, we value service so much in fact that we require every student to fulfill two tiers of service learning in the greater New Orleans area. New Orleans makes us who we are and we aim to give back in any way possible. Under this umbrella, one can volunteer with organizations specializing in providing mentors to youth in the city, such as WYSE (Women and Youth Supporting Each Other), or join organizations that work for greater sustainability. If you’re interested in helping people in a greater capacity, apply to TEMS (Tulane Emergency Medical Service), an entirely student-run, volunteer medical service. Or maybe apply to SAPHE (Sexual Aggression Peer Hotline and Aggression) to provide advice and comfort for victims of sexual assault.

The logo developed by Tulane students to show support for the national It's On Us campaign, raising awareness for sexual assault

Tulane has a way of making sure its students find their place. If that first organization whose meeting you show up for isn’t that interesting, try a different one. You’re bound to find something that works for you!

Christopher Halbohn

Studying Abroad in Copenhagen - Taylor Fox

Studying Abroad in Copenhagen - Taylor Fox

“Honestly though, does anybody really get anything out of studying abroad besides realizing how fun it is to spend your parents' money?”

This is the facebook status us of a guy who used to sit next to me in my high school Chinese class. He was quite smart and likeable, and he went to a respected school. So what happened? Is he being facetious? Am I really that lucky to be having an incredible experience both personally and professionally?

I'm studying Prostitution and the Sex Trade at the Danish Institute of Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. My Tulane scholarship transfers over, but in the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit to being in a privileged position financially. I worked over winter break, and got a study abroad scholarship, but my parents are footing the rest of the bill. For this I am so, so grateful. Truthfully, it is fun spending my parents' money, but this is not a semester off of nonstop partying.

I'm taking classes I'd never be able to take in an American classroom on a topic that I hope to one day turn into a career. I am truly getting a global perspective on the sex industry. I am beginning to understand the impact of legislation on these marginalized communities on a micro scale. Right now, I am on a class study tour to Amsterdam. Within the last five days, I have been gotten to attend lectures to hear the perspectives of a female sex worker, a male sex worker, a customer., a government employee, and a social worker at an NGO. I have walked through the Red Light District. I have sat in one of the famous windows (by attending a very cool museum) and been stared at. I have spoken to a police officer about his thoughts on legalization.

In the last three months, I have studied the Danish model (legal to sell and buy, illegal to be involved as a third party), and the Swedish model (legal to sell, illegal to buy). I have talked to police officers in Denmark and border control officers in Sweden. I have talked to a happy sex worker whose biggest complaint was regarding taxes. I have listened to the story of a woman who felt forced into prostitution by financial circumstances and had an unhappy client try to set her on fire. My opinion on the best way to legislate this keeps changing. I have learned so much. I am surrounded by classmates who feel just as much passion for this subject as I do.

My other classes are amazing too. In my Gender and Sexuality class, we just discussed children's books and how to teach children about themselves and their peers. In my Pornography class, we analyze the different discourses seen in porn and how they intersect with gender and the public sphere. In my Human Trafficking class, we've learned about the international legal efforts to eradicate this issue and how they don't necessarily dovetail with human rights in the ways that you'd hope. In my Danish class, we've learned how to order a sandwich, but also about the mentality of the Danes and the different way that they define success.

So, yes, I've been to Finland, and Sweden, and Germany, and Iceland, and the Netherlands, and I plan to go to Italy. Yes, I had a really good time on my twenty-first birthday here. And yes, Danish men are hands down the most good-looking men on the planet. But I recognize that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I know I'll be leaving with a unique perspective that will give me a competitive edge in the job market. If all that you get out of studying abroad is a story about a hangover, you're doing it wrong.

Choosing to study abroad has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.