Starting a new school year is an opportunity to meet new people and join new causes.

New students may initially be overwhelmed by the college experience. However, joining a group can be a way for students to get involved.

With more than 260 student campus groups recognized by the Student Association, NIU offers a myriad of options.

Welcoming students to a new school year sometimes includes traditional events from last year or years past. The Latino Resource Center will host the Latino Chill, Campus Crusade for Christ will preside over a root beer kegger with a live band and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship will host a Capture the Flag game.

“InterVarsity has one of the best Capture the Flags ever,” said coordinator Brandon Lee. “We use half the campus, not just some small field.”

Many active group members such as Lee suggest that students get as involved as possible. In fact, many students are involved in multiple groups on campus, as events and issues often fit into more than one category of social response. Some groups on campus have chosen to sculpt their welcome days around these, expressing hope for a peaceful or more diverse society.

One example of such an event is the July 26 beating of a 16-year-old African American boy outside of Amber Manor Apartments on Ridge Drive by three white adults.

The three adults are being charged with hate crimes, felony charges that must be approved by the state’s attorney before being issued. Lt. Jim Kayes of the DeKalb Police Department said these types of charges are generally issued only when there is reasonable proof that a crime has been committed because of the identity of the victim.

Many groups feel it is important to raise awareness about this incident.

“For every one situation, there are 20 more,” said Kevin Chambliss, president of the College Democrats. Chambliss said that the College Democrats are working to ensure that the victim’s family will receive a fair defense, and to ensure that the hate crime charge will not become arbitrarily dropped in the legal process.

“We want to make sure that this case goes through thoroughly,” he said. Chambliss also said he has been meeting with members of other groups such as the NAACP and the Black Student Union, hoping to coordinate a combined response, and he hopes other groups dedicated to diversity and cultural awareness as well as fraternities and sororities will share in his cause.

With so many groups covering a wide range of people, interests, and issues, there is generally a niche for everybody. However, for people who can’t seem to find a group dedicated to their interest, there is always the possibility to start your own.

The Student Association office, Campus Life Building Room 180, contains forms and instructions for starting your own club or group, as well as more information on becoming involved with the many groups that already exist.