As a student who transferred to IU as a junior, thinking about campus clubs and organizations initially caused anxiety. I spent hours scrolling through beINvolved on the days leading up to move-in and tried not to get my hopes up as I saw all the clubs that aligned perfectly with my major, interests and beliefs.
I was eager to get a fresh start and meet new people, but since the college I previously attended had a competitive club scene, I was used to being turned away.
A few weeks into my first semester at IU, I took laps around the fall involvement fair at Dunn Meadow, timidly stopping at tables to listen.
Club representatives would give their spiel about how “in love with this club!” they were. They all seemed to say “I met my best friends here!” emphasizing how that club transformed their entire college experience.
Suspicious of these identical optimistic anecdotes, I made sure to ask “But are there cuts?”
Most would respond with a reassuring smile, immediately answering that they accept everyone. Some looked puzzled as to why I would even ask.
A few sighed after hearing my question, however, and then explained various steps of the application and interview processes.
But I left feeling hopeful that I could join a healthy number of clubs in areas I’m passionate about. Some clubs were more selective, but I was amazed at the amount that encouraged everyone to join, highlighting a welcoming environment.
Clubs preaching inclusion is critical to fostering a sense of belonging for students. I remember being a freshman at my old college filling out club applications weekly, just to be rejected over and over.
Of course, my competition was with more experienced upperclassmen, but other freshmen with experience from their high schools would beat me out, too.
My high school was average — offering typical classes, sports and extracurricular activities. It didn’t have resources like a newsroom, film studio or club dedicated solely to marketing or advertising. As someone studying media advertising, I would have loved to join a club in this discipline in high school to immerse myself into my desired career path earlier. Though my high school didn’t have this, I assumed it would be easy to join when I first entered college.
Sophomore year rolled around and I was more confident in my chances with clubs. I assumed I would be more successful after showcasing everything I learned during freshman year’s classes — specifically in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, all critical graphic design programs.
Regardless, the same unfortunate results filled my inbox. I spent hours filling out lengthy applications and attending countless interviews only to be turned away due to lack of experience from simple clubs like the event planning club and the student newspaper — though they all claimed they didn’t require previous experience. I made it into only one club that I wasn’t interested in and didn’t enjoy attending. I actually felt “imposter syndrome” for making the cut, and it never faded away as time went on.
Considering both my own experiences and other students who can relate, I feel passionate about the idea that all clubs should be open to everyone. If they aren’t, students may feel discriminated against if they come from a background with fewer opportunities.
Oftentimes, high schools can’t afford to add resources in niche areas that stray from conventional curriculums, sports and clubs. Cutting students from clubs — especially freshmen — based on lack of experience is intimidating and essentially lowers the chance of meeting other students and trying new things.
I'm now a member of several clubs that I could confidently sell at an involvement fair after only one semester. IU does offer countless inclusive clubs. However, I still think none should have cuts. It won’t make your club seem exclusive and mysterious — it just decreases IU’s sense of community and can make students feel inferior about where they come from. And that is not something anyone deserves.
Kara Acinapuro (she/her) is a junior studying media advertising with a minor in marketing. She is Vice President of Women in Media and a member of CHAARG and Alpha Phi Omega.
