RSOs prove there is a club for everyone
From shoe lovers to squirrel lovers, Central Michigan University likely has a registered student organization to suit your interest.
RSOs give students the chance to connect and engage with others, and while a few are well-known for being especially quirky – like the Boy Meets World Appreciation Club and the Squirrel Watching Club – a couple of newer RSOs are doing what they can to get on student's radar this year.
“For me, being part of an organization helped me step out of my box during my first few years at Central, and I met some great people,” South Lyon senior Emily Huckabone, president of TOMS Shoes at CMU, said.
TOMS, a shoe company, is engaged in what they call the "One for One movement." For every pair of TOMS shoes sold, the company gives a pair of shoes to less fortunate people throughout the world.
TOMS Shoes at CMU, which started five years ago, raises awareness about the One for One shoe movement by hosting shoe-decorating parties. The decorated shoes are then donated to children’s hospitals in the area.
Vice President Ariel Pscheidl said the TOMS group advocates for people who are passionate about helping others.
“We love new members and welcome them to join at any time throughout year. We encourage people who enjoy helping the community and a love for the One for One program to join,” the Shelby Township junior said.
Another RSO, the Central Cosplay Club, which was founded last year, is a group designed for members who want to dress up and impersonate their favorite fictional characters.
“(Cosplay) is the art of dressing up and often acting as a fictional character from a book, anime, movie, etc.,” club president Abby Palmateer, a Virginia senior, said.
Palmateer said the group is aimed toward people who enjoy taking a fictional idea and recreating it in real life.
"We want people who are interested in learning more about dressing up and who want to come together and discuss costumes from idea to reality," she said. "We share ideas on how to make your own perfect costume and where to buy accessories."
Palmateer started the group last year because she wanted cosplayers to get together, learn from one another and feel comfortable with their own abilities. She encourages students to join the Central Cosplay Club to meet people who share similar interests.
“It’s such a fantastic thing to do," she said. "You also get to meet awesome people who share the same interest in cosplay as you do."
Students interested in learning more about various RSO's can do so at Get Acquainted Day in front of Warriner Hall on Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m.
