Three leaders of the Virginia Wesleyan University campus share their thoughts on campus life and how to get involved at the start of the school year.
These leaders include the president of Marlins Go Green, a popular community leader and the associate vice president of campus life.
The president of Marlins Go Green is senior Jessica Wilson. Marlins Go Green works with local nonprofits to promote sustainability in Hampton Roads, and Wilson has been part of the club for the past three years before becoming president. She said that there were a lot of opportunities for the club in the area, but that it was harder to plan and organize events due to a lack of members in the club.
“My focus this year really is to build community,” Wilson said. More involvement in the club would have a larger difference in environmental help, both on and off campus. “Since COVID, the club kind of lost a lot of student engagement. So since freshman year, I’ve been really involved with trying to promote it and rebuild.”
Jessical Wilson|Courtesy
Wilson also commented on the fear associated with a new club that could prevent people from wanting to join.
“I feel like it’s kind of scary when you don’t know people,” Wilson said. She acknowledged that it could be frightening, but that clubs were an open, welcome space for anyone to join and that Marlins Go Green was a welcoming club that was happy to have new members.
Wilson added that clubs could also be a good way to connect with a larger collective, such as the way that Marlins Go Green works with a global community that Wilson is also a part of.
Junior Opeyemi Kareem-Ojo is what many people would consider an unofficial student leader, due to his friendly and present interactions around campus. He described the campus community as a tight-knit collection of smaller groups that come together to create a high energy atmosphere.
“And you can just see, the energy comes from everyone,” Kareem-Ojo said. He added that certain events could bring the whole community together.
“Midnight breakfast is a really big one, where people come together. It’s a really fun time.”
Kareem-Ojo also said he believed that coming to the larger events on campus were a vital part of getting involved in the campus community.
Kareem-Ojo is also a part of the Black Student Union and the VWU Track and Field Team. He mentioned that being a part of the student community has changed him as well.
“I say hi to some people that walk by, even if I don’t know them, I say hello. They say hello to me. It’s just a very refreshing thing,” Kareem-Ojo said.
Opeyemi Kareem-Ojo|Courtesy
Director Jason Seward, associate vice president for Campus Life and Operational Management, stated that he was proud of the VWU campus community and the opportunities for involvement on campus.
“It’s like no other institution I’ve been involved with or been on the campus,” Seward said. “There’s no other community where I’ve found that students can be so involved in the classroom, out the classroom, out in the community and it’s that community feel, in general, that allows those to happen.”
Seward stated that the campus community was also unique in the amount of opportunities that VWU students can take advantage of. From athletic teams like Track and Field to clubs like Marlins Go Green, the list of opportunities in the community is lengthy.
“Being a small community allows for our students to have an incredible amount of opportunity to be involved at various levels, from leadership roles to advocate roles to professional development, to social development, spiritual development. The opportunities are endless,” Seward said. He added that the opportunities that VWU students could take advantage of continued to grow, especially with new partnerships like the MOCA institute.
Each campus leader shared their individual advice on how to get involved on campus. Wilson suggested that one of the best ways to stay connected is to read the weekly newsletter.
“You’re always welcome at any of those events,” Wilson said. “Even if you haven’t been a member before.”
Kareem-Ojo and Seward both advised that all students and community members take part in the many opportunities around campus to get involved.
“Just get out there the best you can and try the best you can to learn and develop, develop new perspectives, and whatnot,” Kareem-Ojo said.
“Don’t let the reasons that you shouldn’t, stop you from actually doing,” Seward said. “Just jump in.”
Students are able to get involved through clubs like Marlins Go Green, athletics, or by simply attending student events.
By: Gabrielle Barnett
