Plant your roots!
How to get involved in campus life and make the most of your time at MRU
Becca Paterson
Features Editor
Let’s face it, Mount Royal University is what you’d call a “commuter campus.” This means, aside from the small amount of housing located on campus, a majority of the students live away — sometimes far away — from MRU and have to commute to and from campus each day. As a result, it can be especially tough for students to feel connected and involved in the MRU community.
As much as we’ve heard it all before, you get what you put in so to speak, so getting involved is an important part of university life.
SAMRU’s Wyckham House offers many student services on their second floor — all free for Mount Royal students.
Photo: Albina Khouzina
We get it. It’s tough to put yourself out there, and you know what, clubs just aren’t for everyone. For that reason, the Reflector has put together this list of ways to get involved in campus life:
Volunteer on campus
One of the best ways to get involved in campus life is to volunteer. By volunteering, not only do you get the opportunity to meet new people and expand your social circle, but you are giving back to your campus community. It also gives you the chance to connect with other students who are maybe having the same worries or feeling as isolated as you are.
There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available on campus, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find something that suits you — whether that be volunteering in the Pride Centre, in the Student Outreach and Safewalk program or even as a governor for SAMRU.
There’s something for everyone. For more information on where and how to get involved in volunteering, you can visit www.samru.ca/studentopportunities/volunteer.
Utilize campus services
Take a look at the different benefits offered to MRU students. Wellness Services offers free counseling, therapy and workshops to the campus community.
Photo: Albina Khouzina
Even if volunteering isn’t for you, taking advantage of the services that are offered around campus is a great way to get connected. If you get yourself out to the gym on a regular basis, you’re bound to see some familiar faces — especially if you sign up for the gym buddy program. Maybe you’ll find someone to grab beer at the Hub with while attending that procrastination workshop from Student Learning Services you’ve been meaning to check out.
Hang around on campus
Spend time on campus! It’s pretty tough to meet new people if you’re never around. There are a lot of welcoming, social spaces on campus where you can spend your time instead of heading straight home after class.
Why not grab a beer at The Hub? Okay, maybe not if you drive to campus, but there’s always someone friendly hanging out at the campus pub, so it’s definitely a good place to start. If The Hub isn’t your speed, maybe introduce yourself to someone sitting alone in Wyckham house or Herb’n Market?
There are plenty of clubs that you can join that aren’t always on SAMRU’s list. For example, you can check out the second floor of Wyckham House if you’re interested in gaming.
Photo: Reflector Archives / Albina Khouzina
Join a club
Of course, joining a club is probably the best way to get out there. Clubs offer the chance for a group of people who already have something in common to regularly get together, which is great because you won’t have to worry about searching for those awkward small talk conversation topics — you’ll already have something to talk about!
Another great thing about clubs is that Mount Royal has a club for almost everything. Really into comedy? There’s an improv group. Like the outdoors? There’s a club for that, too. Into talking politics? Get involved with one of the multiple politically-oriented groups on campus. It shouldn’t be too hard to find something that’s right for you. Don’t worry if you can’t though, because there’s also always the option of starting your own club too.
For a full list of the clubs offered on campus, check out the SAMRU ‘s clubs directory.
Find what is right for you
While it is important to get involved in the campus community to really get the most out of your university experience, it’s also important to do what is best for you. That means finding the right balance between your schoolwork, time for yourself and the time you spend connecting to campus life.
It’s important to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, but if joining a club is too much, that’s okay! Explore some of the other options Mount Royal has to offer.
