What if Societies Did Not Exist?
Photo by Bethany Legg on Unsplash
Written by: Leah Oake
Societies are a pivotal part of the university experience. Without them, the lively atmosphere on campus would dull and the student experience would significantly change. It is expected that once someone reaches university, they will experience a change in their life wether it be academically or socially, it is known that university is something that can (and likely will) reshape a person’s life in more ways than one. Those changes can manifest through classes that enlighten someone about new thoughts and theories, or they can appear through the shift in a person's social life. I feel the key aspect that propels this change is student societies. Societies are a vital function in the system of a university. They allow students to create a feeling of belonging, so the stress and hardships that come with challenging course loads can be subdued. If universities suddenly made it unacceptable for societies to remain at schools, what would happen? What would happen if societies did not exist?
The two main things that would become a problem if societies did not exist anymore would be low morale and a lack of outreach. The main thing that a university should focus on is its students. Universities run because of the funds they acquire from their students. If they had a decrease in admissions, then their funds would decrease too. They would lose more money than they would gain. The reason that a majority of them continue to get new students year after year is not because of their prestige or cost, but because of the students' excitement of making connections. No matter how prestigious a university is, the students will still crave a social outlet. This social outlet can be easily found in societies. If a student is pursuing a chemistry major, their workload will likely be extremely overwhelming. Having the option to join the chemistry society can allow them to spend time with people who are also dealing with the same stresses, while also continuing to foster a love for their academics. If societies did not exist, then students would have a significant decrease in their options for leisure within the university setting. Societies provide not only friendship but also a source of relaxation from outside issues.
If societies did not exist, in addition to the lack of morale, it would also lower a university's outreach. A university focuses on maintaining its influx of students every year. If we look at Harvard University, their influx of students is likely to decrease if they limit their student societies. If we look at what would happen if a university with a lesser-known name (like SMU) took away their societies, students would be extremely hesitant to choose the university. This is because their university lacks both prestige and student social engagement.
Continuing on the topic of outreach, societies not only help students with morale, they also act as tools to bring the community together. For example, the Drama Society opens up its doors to the public to come and see its shows. In addition, the Environmental Society hosts trash clean-ups, which allow the society to become more active in the community. They are simultaneously making their names apparent in the community while making a good impact. So, if an aspiring SMU student who loves theatre comes to see a show and loves it, it may make them more likely to choose SMU. A lack of societies limits a university's outreach. If a person of colour comes to a predominantly white school, they may feel a sense of alienation. But if there are cultural societies available for them to join, then that can allow their feelings of alienation to subside.
To sum up, universities need to promote and support their societies. Luckily, SMU’s societies are doing well, but that doesn’t mean that as a student body we shouldn’t continue to voice love and appreciation to the society executives who allow SMU to be a school full of lively love and friendship. Societies are a crucial part of the university experience. Without their presence, campuses would become barren, and the student experience would significantly change.