Column:

Key to college is getting involved

Joining student organizations and volunteering will get you moving.

By Phil Klopfenstein

Published June 2, 2009

Hello, incoming freshmen. I know some of you are super excited to be headed to university in the fall (and some of you are pretending not to be excited, but we all know that you're shaking with anticipation), but there is one thing that can probably be said of most all of you. You're not shaking with excitement about your classes.

Now, this isn't to say that your classes won't be educational or even interesting, just to assume that classes are not the No. 1 attraction this fall (sorry, teachers).

And so it should be. Classes should not be the sole attraction to a university. Now before the parents begin to worry about where this column is headed, let me clarify. Parties and football games should not be the main attractions, either — maybe tertiary attraction at best (sorry, Tigers). "But Phil, what does that leave?" you ask, unaware of all the opportunities available to you both on and off campus. Well, I'm glad you asked.

I can say with confidence that in my time at MU, I have learned just as much, if not more, outside the classroom than I have inside lecture halls and small groups. This is not meant to downplay our wonderful teachers or the formalities of academia in the least, (freshman, attend your classes!). In fact, if you compare the time spent in class with the time spent outside of class, it only makes sense that most of your learning would occur in the latter.

I'm sure many of my readers have already heard many times about all the life experience you will gain and have fantasized about all the crazy partying to be had when parents reside in some far off zip code. Don't get carried away guys and ladies. Be careful and aware of the risk of rape and sexual assault.

So since you've already heard about those things, I'm going to speak about something a bit more concrete. While you're outside the lecture halls, I would encourage all of you to get involved with some sort of club, organization, project or volunteering, both on campus and in town. In a 300-person lecture, you can only really be a recipient of information, even if only 100 students come to class on average. But in a club meeting you can give your input, be involved in something that interests you and meet some great folks along the way.

You could join an academic group tied to your major, a social group or something out in left field and learn a new skill in, say, the Latin Dance Club. Sounding good so far? Volunteer at the Central Missouri Food Bank or Refugee & Immigrant Services in town (Columbia has a surprisingly diverse demography for the middle of the Midwest). Go see some of the great speakers and events that the university hosts.

All of this is to say, there are many opportunities to learn outside the classroom, many of which can be more rewarding in the chances they provide to develop one's skills, interests and connections.

I think a quote from George Clinton is appropriate: "Free your mind and your ass will follow." But perhaps it is just as instructive if reversed. Incoming freshmen, do yourselves a favor and get involved in more than sitting down to study or to watch the football games or pass out on frat couches. You will find there are plenty of great attractions in the college life if you take the time to look.