Word on the street is the students at Southern University aren’t taking advantage of all the opportunities that campus organizations provide. But let’s be honest, the problem isn’t that students are lazy. The truth is, students aren’t ignoring opportunities; too often, opportunities are ignoring students. Sure, there are plenty of groups to join, but are they really unified in a way. Does that make people want to stay? Has anyone stopped to think that maybe students don’t feel welcomed? Was the event truly what the organization promised, or did it fall short of Expectations?
For new students, especially those coming from different states or even countries The culture and purpose of these organizations can be confusing. Sometimes the environment screams eww…. Why is she mugged up like that? Students are looking for ways to get involved, Yet some walk away feeling like outsiders. Organizations often promote themselves as being “like a family,” but the outcome is different. That leaves students feeling excluded, afraid of rejection, or struggling to build connections. And let’s not ignore the Practical barriers too. We are balancing work, academics, and life responsibilities, and sometimes schedules don’t align.
Organization dues can also be a deal-breaker, especially when deadlines are strict and options for flexibility is limited or when someone simply can’t afford to join. On top of that, many of usI feel like campus programming lacks variety. The same types of flyers and activities come around again and again, and they don’t always reflect the diversity of our student body. It’s no wonder students lose interest. Southern has the potential to be even stronger, but only if leaders actually take time to listen to what students want. There are ways forward. Weekly polls could help organizations plan events that reflect student interests. The university could make it easier to start new organizations so we see more variety. And most importantly, we need spaces where students feel comfortable sharing their real experiences without fear of being brushed off.
If Southern truly wants more student participation, it’s not just about telling us to get involved, it’s about creating an environment where we all feel like we belong. And as students, we’re not robots; we have voices, and we can use them to help guide our campus leaders. We’re a historically Black college, and that means we have to stick together because the odds are already stacked against us. People are sending threats to HBCUS for us existing. There are people who want to see us fail, who expect us not to carry ourselves with pride and purpose. But we can and we will.
