Collegiettes™:does Bentley have enough student organizations?
Recently, some students on our campus have expressed this belief, arguing that the Association of Bentley Activities should not spend their time and resources on the new organization recognition process.
Whether during campus tours or on the web, Bentley boasts of the fact that despite our smallish student population of 4,200 undergrads, we have over 100 different clubs and organizations. This is clearly an important number to admissions and recruitment, as it is listed among faculty to student ratio, class size, and job placement rate on the Fast Facts page. I believe this is also reflective of our community and who the Bentley student is—someone with a variety of interests, who wants to be involved, make a difference on our campus or in the world, and who is passionate. With these facts in mind, I find it very hard to understand why some of our peers have expressed the opinion that we have enough organizations.
I agree that trying to create an organization who’s purpose and mission is already being met by an existing organization is a waste of resources. All students indirectly fund organizations through the Student Activity Fee every semester, so clearly we do not want that money to be thrown away. However, is it fair to say that 100 clubs are enough to fulfill the needs and interests of every student? As Bentley students, we should celebrate our diverse passions and ideas, and have the ability to implement them.
At HerCampus Bentley, the staff and I firmly believe that we are providing something fresh and different from existing student organizations. This is not at all an attack upon or competition with any current organizations—our perspective is different. On a business school campus with 60% males, and in a world where only 12 of the Fortune 500 companies’ CEOs are women, organizations that will help promote female leaders are necessary. At HerCampus, we work to provide the Bentley community with articles ranging from lighter topics, such as how to stay classy through Halloween, to serious issues like rape and aggression defense, while keeping our readers up to date on can’t-miss events.
As Elizabeth Cady Stanton (who is credited with initiating the first Women’s Rights Movement) once said, “The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.”
It is our responsibility as students and leaders to express our opinions, share our ideas, and actively pursue what we believe in. The HerCampus Bentley staff believes in our purpose and success, and I am so excited to see what the future has in store (and not to mention meet our next Campus Celeb!).
So thank you for a great start to our branch, Collegiettes™, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue!
HCXO,
The HerCampus Bentley Staff