NIU has over 400 student organizations. In the first installment of my “Involved at NIU” series, I highlight three of these organizations.

College Parenting Group

College Parenting Group (CPG) meetings are held at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Northern View Community Center. Being a parent myself, I have met other parents around campus, but the atmosphere of CPG was informal, which was nice; and the children are adorable.

Normally CPG is a chance for parents to take a break from parenting, and socialize while their children play and are supervised by volunteers. On my visit, after the highs and lows of the day were completed, the children decorated cookies and did crafts with their parents.

Jessica Davis, junior family, consumer, and nutrition sciences major, and vice president of CPG, explained how CPG was an asset to its members in other ways, “CPG helps members build their resume by planning events and doing community service.”

Davis went on to tell about the next upcoming CPG event, Christmas for Kids, on Nov. 17. I urge all students to collect toys for Christmas for Kids so CPG can make it the best ever.

To learn more about CPG, find CPG on the Student Association’s website.

Pagan Student Association

Meetings for the Pagan Student Association (PSA) are at 5 p.m. on Thursdays in DuSable 328. This week I attended their Samhain ritual marking the end of their year. I could not stay for the entire ritual, but with delicious food and kind conversation prior to the ritual, I liken it to church with a different wardrobe.

Talking with President Jessica Foxworthy, senior communication and media studies major, highlights of the organization are learning from members about historical customs, Sabbats, rituals, and full moon ceremonies. The group is active in raising money for the DeKalb County Animal Shelter.

Nathan Lansford, a senior anthropology major, stated his reason for becoming involved in PSA, “I have an interest in ancient and medieval history. Although I am more Agnostic than Pagan, I enjoy the atmosphere of the organization and the company of other members.”

Since the group is heavily based in Celtic traditions, those with knowledge of Egyptian or Asian Pagan customs are encouraged to come and make the group even more diverse.

To learn more go to PSA’s blog at niupagans.blogspot.com.

Engineers Without Boarders

I ended a long week of involvement at NIU by attending an Engineers Without Boarders (EWB) meeting. EWB’s general meetings are held at 4 p.m., Fridays, in the second floor of the Holmes Student Center; although, check out their calendar at niuewb.com for other weekly events.

EWB reinforces the belief that NIU does not make students, but it is the students that make NIU.

During the month of October, EWB collected over 500 shoes and $800 for the Day Without Shoes Campaign. Their foot fetish does not stop there, planning is underway for a benefit concert in April to coincide with the international Day Without Shoes day.

More altruistic project, EWB is actively involved in energy projects in Tanzania and water filtration solutions in Mexico.

EWB president Alan Hurt, senior mechanical and industrial systems engineering major, who, after this December, will have gone to Africa four times since 2007, said about EWB, “It changed my life. It is easy to come to school and do the grind, but EWB has opened up a multitude of possibilities.”

Certainly any organization who won the 2010-2011 Student Organization of the Year Award would be accomplished, but EWB is constantly looking for ways to do more. I encourage students of all majors who want to be involved in an organization that not only impacts NIU but the world, to become active in EWB.

Trips to Africa do not come cheap, so there needs to be a support base of business, marketing, legal, and communication students that help take care of EWB’s auxiliary functions, so the brilliance of these engineers can be focused on what they do best: building a better tomorrow.