By Joel Fuzo / Jambar Contributor
Youngstown State University offers a wide variety of clubs that allow students to pursue their interests, ranging from entertainment to career-related goals.
Caleb Queen, coordinator of student involvement, said students can access clubs through their Penguin Portal.
“What they can do is navigate there through their Penguin Portal, and then there is an option for groups,” Queen said.
When students access their Penguin Portal, they’ll find campus groups in the student E-service index. Inside there is a link called “student organizations.” This will show meeting times and groups students can message.
Another way students can explore clubs at YSU is by visiting the university’s student activities webpage, which provides a full list of all active organizations.
If a student looks at the list and doesn’t see a club that piques their interest or doesn’t exist, this is what they can do.
“If you have a club idea that doesn’t already exist, what you need is five members including yourself, three to four officers. Typically you would want president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and then you would need a full-time faculty staff advisor,” Queen said. “After that you would need a constitution of bylaws. We have one of those on our website that you can copy, paste and edit to fit your own work.”
The fall deadline has passed to create new clubs. There is an option for students to do so again Jan. 1, 2025.
Queen provided further details on how the funds are managed.
“The cool thing about student organizations is that they have their own bank accounts. We consider them legally distinct from the university,” Queen said. “We don’t have anyone from the university on the account, just the students. They raise funds on their own and they are able to use them how they like for club activities.”
Fundraising isn’t the only way for clubs to earn money. Each club is eligible for a budget from the school, though there’s no guarantee they will receive it.
“There’s an application process, a general budget that each organization is allowed to have. They are just not guaranteed that money,” Queen said.
Nora Paraska, president of the YSU Book Club, said being involved in the club has been beneficial.
“I definitely think that book club has enriched my college experience,” Paraska said. “I’ve made good friends through the club, and it gives me an outlet to step out of my school work and enjoy my love of reading.”
