In this episode of Campus Conversations, we sit down with Ferris State President Bill Pink, Greek Life and Student Organization Coordinator Josh Olszewski, President of the Bulldog Motor Sports Club Corey VanOchten, and Ni’Jah Rankin, member of the You Beautiful Black Women RSO (YBBW). Together they discuss all things Registered Student Organizations (RSO).
Written by Rockne Smith and Cameron Altonen | Layout and Featured Image by Kayla Muter
Firstly, Josh Olszewski breaks down an RSO as a group of 3 or more students that come together around a similar interest. Allowing students to come together about a cause or idea. RSOs are student-led; they are the ones hosting the meetings and events and determining how they will impact others here at Ferris.
President Pink asks Olszewski what elements make a lasting RSO, and his response is the utilization of campus resources. The biggest resources are the faculty and staff advisors. Take advantage of their expertise and understanding of Ferris, ask them questions and keep them up informed on what is going on in the RSO.
We then transitioned the conversation to Corey and Ni’Jah about their experience in their RSOs. Corey recalls lacking personal connection during his freshman year and seeking out a way he could get involved. Eventually, it was his roommate who invited him to a car show, and that is where he found what he wanted to do and a purpose in rebuilding the Bulldog Motor Sports Club. He has since been promoted to President of the RSO. The RSO is comprised of about 5 students who coordinate events such as car shows, car meets, and occasionally, they will go to drag strips. The RSO is about bringing people and cars together. Dismantling the hate between brands and opening it up for appreciation.
Ni’Jah talks about wanting to get involved from the moment she came to campus. She was introduced to YBBW at the Multicultural Student Services Black Student Welcome. Here, she met other women who were part of YBBW, and they encouraged her to join. She states that YBBW provides unification, scholarships, and a sense of community on campus.
Olszewski touches on the value an RSO has on a student’s well-being. He references the Harvard Happiness Study and how it found that strong relationships have a vital impact on our health. Relationships are the foundation of an RSO; it’s creating that connection and forming bonds.
In the second half of Campus Conversations, President Pink asks our guests about their
perspective on what they have accomplished in their RSOs and how impactful it was. Corey
VanOchten is the president of Bulldog MotorSports Club, and he tells us how every spring
they have a spring car show, which is a 10 dollar entry, so they make a profit of that, but the
past two years, they have decided to donate portions of the profit. the first year, they donated
half of i,t which was $800 towards Angels of Action, and last year it was $500 to them.
This money goes to kids around Big Rapids who don’t have enough money for food, school, or
clothes. The next guest, Ni’Jah Rankin, member of You Beautiful Black Women, says that
when it comes to events, they try to make sure that everybody can have room to come
together, and just have fun and relax. They make big events or fashion shows so that everybody
can dress up nice and look nice, and express themselves. They try to bring the community
together, plus their community service is frequent with their events, so they try to stay active
and present, engaging with community work.
Our third guest, Josh Olszewki Coordinator of Center for Student Involvement, who is part of the RSO, talks about how all these student organizations make our campus feel so vibrant, like the Second Chance prom, celebrated annually alongside with so much more events like club sports, fraternities/sororities, botany club, outdoor club, MCA, and entertainment unlimited. He says it is so exciting to watch every event grow every year and how some of our organizations have been around for a long time, some of them celebrating 30 years of anniversary.
President Pink later talks about how when students are involved in something other than their academics, they tend to have more success while they are in college and tend to finish it when they are engaging and getting involved. Better experiences and finish a degree. He then asks each guest about their experience and their involvement with their organizations and how that has uplifted their experience as a bulldog. Corey starts by saying it starts with the friends you make throughout the club, having people by your side can make the experience better, and being able to lean on external support. Ni’Jah goes into how it helps holding each other accountable and checking on each other, making sure classes are going well, mental health or physical health. There is the understanding that they all want to help, so they help each other succeed.
Dr pink goes on about the everlasting friendships after college, how these connections can last a lifetime and can help you when in distress even years and years after college. Josh talks about how these organizations create these types of connections and friendships. Student organizations make you get closer to people and strengthen relationships to come close to this group goal, making you connect on a deeper level with these communities. Then, our guests share experiences about how this lasting relationship’s effect is already showing in their lives. Corey talks about the ex-president of the BMC contacting him and still being in touch even after leaving college. Ni’Jah also shares about the friendships she has built and how they call each other a lot maintaining this connection strong.
To end this show, President Pink asks them to share their opinions on why students should join an RSO. Ni’Jah says that being in one helps you find people who are there for you and will help you along your journey. He encourages students to go out there and try it, see if they like it, and how much it impacts your college life for the better. Josh goes on about the friendships, the experiences, doing things you never thought you would do, learning skills, being better for interviews, showing you were part of an organization, and how it helped you build your leadership skills. He says it’s all about learning, having fun, and meeting new people.