2008 Woodie Awards
Not your everyday campus clubs
Lori Bailey
Issue date: 7/23/08 Section: Sports
With SIUE's Flying Cougars, the sky is the limit. The skydiving club is just one of the many athletic activities offered by SIUE's club sport's program.
With 23 different options, SIUE club sports offer students a plethora of options to satisfy their athletic needs.
Among the many clubs offered are traditional sports like tackle football, ice hockey, women's basketball, men's baseball and women's softball. In addition, there are also more unique organizations such as the Bass Master's Club, Climbers Anonymous,Paintball and an Outdoor Adventure Club.
If a student doesn't like those options, creating his or her own club sport is as simple as turning in a petition demonstrating the interest in the club. Next, students must make a constitution for their organization. Finally, once a president, vice president and secretary/treasurer are selected, the officers complete a packet of registration forms and submit them to the Department of Campus Recreation.
While other sports on campus are run by the university, club sports have a different governing body.
"They are run by students for students," campus recreation assistant director Keith Becherer said. "That's what makes this program so unique. It's fantastic that the administration allows these students to take their ideas and run with them."
SIUE senior Kevin Nesselhauf is the president of the SIUE Club Football and SIUE Club Sports Executive Council, and said the unique structure of club sports is what attracts so many students.
"Club sports are special because it's sports in the purest form," Nesselhauf said. "Everyone there truly enjoys playing. Club sports are whatever you want them to be. One person can make a difference to a club. [All it takes is] someone to step up and take charge."
On top of club sports being run by students, they operate almost entirely on member dues. There is a certain allocation allowed to the entire program from the university budget, but it must be spread out among all the clubs in accordance to their need. This is one of the many tasks assigned to the SIUE Club Sports Executive Council.
"I'd like to give a bunch of money just to football, but I can't do that," Nesselhauf said. "We have to make sure that the allocations go to whomever needs it most."
Many clubs, such as the Tae Kwon Do club, operate exclusively within SIUE. However, clubs such as football and cheerleading compete against schools across the country in games and competitions.
New clubs are always being made. Just last year, the South Star Dancers was officially made into a club sport, and who knows what next year will bring? All it takes is a group of students with an idea. Who knows? Maybe next year you will be the founding president of the Underwater Basket Weaving Club.
With 23 different options, SIUE club sports offer students a plethora of options to satisfy their athletic needs.
Among the many clubs offered are traditional sports like tackle football, ice hockey, women's basketball, men's baseball and women's softball. In addition, there are also more unique organizations such as the Bass Master's Club, Climbers Anonymous,Paintball and an Outdoor Adventure Club.
If a student doesn't like those options, creating his or her own club sport is as simple as turning in a petition demonstrating the interest in the club. Next, students must make a constitution for their organization. Finally, once a president, vice president and secretary/treasurer are selected, the officers complete a packet of registration forms and submit them to the Department of Campus Recreation.
While other sports on campus are run by the university, club sports have a different governing body.
"They are run by students for students," campus recreation assistant director Keith Becherer said. "That's what makes this program so unique. It's fantastic that the administration allows these students to take their ideas and run with them."
SIUE senior Kevin Nesselhauf is the president of the SIUE Club Football and SIUE Club Sports Executive Council, and said the unique structure of club sports is what attracts so many students.
"Club sports are special because it's sports in the purest form," Nesselhauf said. "Everyone there truly enjoys playing. Club sports are whatever you want them to be. One person can make a difference to a club. [All it takes is] someone to step up and take charge."
On top of club sports being run by students, they operate almost entirely on member dues. There is a certain allocation allowed to the entire program from the university budget, but it must be spread out among all the clubs in accordance to their need. This is one of the many tasks assigned to the SIUE Club Sports Executive Council.
"I'd like to give a bunch of money just to football, but I can't do that," Nesselhauf said. "We have to make sure that the allocations go to whomever needs it most."
Many clubs, such as the Tae Kwon Do club, operate exclusively within SIUE. However, clubs such as football and cheerleading compete against schools across the country in games and competitions.
New clubs are always being made. Just last year, the South Star Dancers was officially made into a club sport, and who knows what next year will bring? All it takes is a group of students with an idea. Who knows? Maybe next year you will be the founding president of the Underwater Basket Weaving Club.
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