Junior Daniel Cruz said when he sees clusters of people around campus, he just runs up to them and starts talking.

“I just tend to go up and strike up conversation,” Cruz, a manufacturing engineering technology major, said. “As long as you don’t have any fear, it’s easy to make conversation and meet people here.”

For a new student at NIU – or anyone in an unfamiliar setting, surrounded by people they may not know – meeting new people and socializing may seem like a daunting task.

Not everyone may be as fearless as Cruz, but some organizations on campus work to facilitate social contact.

Neptune community adviser Patrick Hoare said that residence halls often put on programs for residents to connect and get to know each other.

Joining organizations are also a good for students’ social lives, Hoare said. They can also help students network and get jobs after graduation.

“Joining organizations always helps you meeting new people,” he said.

Finding common interests with people is important, said Madeline Deligiannis, junior illustration major.

Deligiannis, who transferred to NIU this year, said that adjusting hasn’t been difficult for her, but she knows people who have had difficulties.

Daihee Cho, Residence Hall Association president , said RHA helps people connect by planning events for students, especially those in the residence halls.

One way for students to get involved and meet people is by joining their residence hall council, Cho said.

“Right now we have 60 board members,” Cho said. “We want to hear [students], and that’s why we are here.”

Students can find information on their residence hall councils on the RHA website.

Cho said that communication is important for RHA, as well – students can discuss recommendations, opinions or suggestions to improve residence hall life to the organization.

“We go to events and talk to them,” Cho said. “We listen to them and we talk to them and we make the changes.”

Sometimes, getting to know another student can be as easy as opening your mouth.

“All you’ve got to do is just talk,” said freshman business major Dionte Cooper. “Everyone is friendly here at NIU, so just speak.”