clubs

Proud To Have Pridesgiving at SUNY Ulster

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Text composition saying Pridesgiving Potluck

First impressions are quite important, which is why  SUNY Ulster wants to kick off our Pridesgiving holiday event with a bang. On campus this November 20th we are having a potluck feast to bring together people of our community that may not be otherwise looking forward to the holiday of Thanksgiving.scrabble tiles spelling out the word PRIDE

Unfortunately, it was brought to the attention of the LGBTQA Association that a few of our students, whom we are quite proud of and want nothing more than to support, didn’t have any prospective plans for the upcoming big food & football holiday. The association advisor Brandon Burnett quickly began setting up an all-inclusive event that everyone in our community, whether LGBTQ themselves or simply an ally, could attend comfortably and happily.

 Add to our Potluck!

So now that you know, are you just dying to share your grandma’s famous stuffing recipe with us? Well, then you’re in luck because this event is Potluck! Anyone and everyone that can come is invited to bring their favorite dish or even just pick up something to share, that is what the Thanksgiving spirit was founded on after all! Bring that stuffing that will make your grandma proud and tell everyone all about her, better yet, bring her along! Everyone from the community is welcome to join in and there is a quick and easy form you can fill out to bring decorations, desserts, drinks, supplies, or whatever kind of food you want to share.

The holidays can often mean displacement from home for many due to family issues or other circumstances beyond their control. In an effort to end the discomfort this brings for some of our student colleges, we would like to invite you to join us for some good food and great company this upcoming Tuesday, November 20th in the campus life dining hall from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those who are able to make it are happily invited to stick around afterward if they want to keep the holiday banter going with newfound friends and allies.

We want to keep Pridesgiving going!

This is the first SUNY Ulster Pridesgiving holiday event and first impressions mean more than you know so your attendance could help us make this an annual event for the community to enjoy together.

Cartoon turkey holding a steaming pie.

This occasion is a chance for you to come and show your support to the members of our college community that you may see every week. There are lots of friends to be made and a lot to learn about lifestyles you may not encounter every day, so come on down and be a part of Pridesgiving with us.

Get Involved Outside of the Classroom

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Students playing Jenga outside

You’ve probably gotten used to life as a college student, but by now you may be looking for more ways to expand your horizons and get the full college experience. Even though Ulster doesn’t have students living on campus, we still have a great campus culture and many ways to get involved! Here are just a few:

Join a Club

SUNY Ulster offers many clubs for students to take part in. There are major-related clubs like Biology, Art, and Human Services, which are often open to students outside of the majors as well, and there are interest-related clubs like Multicultural, FOCUS, and Writing which are open to all students. Learn more about what each club does and consider attending a meeting or two!

Get an On-Campus Job or Consider Volunteering

There are many opportunities on campus for employment, which not only help you get better acquainted with the college and students, staff, and faculty, but also help you earn a bit on the side to help fund your college career. If the department you’d like to work in doesn’t have any openings, you can also consider volunteering to get involved. Some departments, such as Theatre, can always use extra help when it comes to putting on productions. Volunteering gets you involved and meeting new people, looks great on a resume, and could lead to employment in the department down the road depending on the situation. Talk to Career Services for more information, located in VAN 119, either in person or via email at careerservices@sunyulster.edu.

Attend Events

There are many activities going on around campus throughout the year! There are social events like the annual Spring Carnival, game days, and talent shows, and there are also informative and interesting events like concerts, discussions, and more that take place throughout the year. Keep an eye on the campus spotlight in the portal, our social media profiles, and the spring and fall events fliers located around campus to find out what activities and events are coming up.

Become a Student Leader/Ambassador

Students can become Student Admissions Ambassadors, Campus Connect Leaders, or members of the Student Government Organization if they want to take a leadership role or share and improve their campus experiences. Student Admissions Ambassadors share their personal experiences as SUNY Ulster students with prospective students at events, and their activities include volunteering at Admissions events, assisting at local college fairs, and participating in Open House. Campus Connect Leaders help run Campus Connect and assist new students with learning about the campus. SGO officers help plan and run student events and listen to the needs of students to make a more enjoyable campus experience for all. All of these are great options for getting to know the school and other students!

Don’t Just Attend Class and Run

The most important thing you can do if you’re looking for new opportunities and new friends is to hang out on campus outside of classes. Many things happen in the cafeteria and around campus that you only discover if you take the time to stick around and see what’s happening.

Give a few of these opportunities a shot, or just hang around campus for an extra hour or two each week. You never know who you’ll meet or what might happen!

SUNY Ulster’s Campus Clubs

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Front of library in fall with SUNY Ulster's campus clubs written in sky

You’ve been here a while now, and you’ve probably adjusted to classes and college life, but you may not feel really connected to Ulster yet. You may also be struggling to meet new people outside of class. How do you fix this? Well, one easy way is to try one of our many active clubs here on campus! Clubs are organized and run by your fellow students, with help from a faculty advisor. Here is a preview of some of the many interesting clubs on campus:

BIOLOGY CLUB

The Biology Club often works with the Environmental Club to plan and take part in events. The clubs have held panels and events on topics such as the effects of chemical spraying on farms, on the environment, and on consumers. This semester, the club hopes to take part in community volunteering, volunteering on local farms, hosting a blood drive, and possibly holding a bake sale as a fundraiser for those affected by the hurricanes. They are also trying to find a museum or event  to attend. Due to many overlapping interests, the environmental and biology club meet together in HAR 211 on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Contact Nancy Decker at deckern@sunyulster.edu for more information.

BUSINESS CLUB

The SUNY Ulster Business Club presents an opportunity for students to experience and learn from various business-related activities. With speakers, club trips, and many club events, the Business Club can be a fun club for students pursuing a career in any field. Some of their past trips include a tour of YouTube studios and a tour of Wall Street. The meetings are held every Wednesday from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. in HAS 208. For more information, contact Mindy Kole at kolem@sunyulster.edu.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLUB

In the past, the Criminal Justice Club has gone to NYC to the “Bodies” exhibit and to the NYPD museum.  They have also had K9 officers and their partners come to school for a demonstrations. The Criminal Justice Club starts a charitable drive to help the less fortunate. They normally meet on the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. in HAR 118. For more information, contact Thomas D’Amicantonio at damicant@sunyulster.edu.

DRAMA CLUB

Members of the Drama Club use their meetings to produce student written work, work on improvisation, and play theatre games. Their writing and acting has been on display at a number of improv shows and student productions put on for the campus community. They meet on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. in the Vanderlyn Rehearsal Room. For more information, contact Stephen Balantzian at balantzs@sunyulster.edu.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB

The Environmental Club focuses on educating the campus and surrounding community on environmental issues. They participate in community volunteer cleanup opportunities when possible, such as trail maintenance on I Love My Park Day, preparing the community garden with the Kingston YMCA Farm Project, and cleaning and restoring Kingston Point Beach. This work was recognized by SUNY’s 30 Days of Giving. They also raise money to donate to environmental groups and to preserve rain and cloud forests in areas considered to be most at risk of development. On campus, they have hosted events such as the film showing of “Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds” followed by a discussion panel, a talk by Larissa Walker on the importance of pollinators, and an Earth Day event in which they invited guest speakers and environmental groups. This semester, they will be hosting a forum on food security and the importance on getting food from our farms to the food pantries that need it. They meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays in HAR 211. Contact Jennifer Costello at costellj@sunyulster.edu for more information.

FASHION CLUB 

The Fashion Club promotes fashion awareness on campus and does fundraising events for field trips. In the past, they have made club t-shirts and planned fundraisers. They meet in the HAS 202 Sewing Room at 4:30 one Wednesday a month. Contact Kristin Flynn at flynnk@sunyulster.edu for more information.

FOCUS

FOCUS (Fellowship Of Christian University Students) aims to encourage spiritual growth among the college community, create an atmosphere of studying the Scriptures, establish opportunities for community service both on and off campus, and equip students with skills and experiences that will further develop leadership skills. In the past, club members have sponsored a coffee house and passed out Final Exam Survival Pack goodie bags to the campus community. The club meets on Wednesday afternoons from 1-2 p.m. in the Dining Hall, where they pray together and do a Bible study. Contact Dr. Hans Vought at voughth@sunyulster.edu for more information.

HUMAN SERVICES CLUB

The Human Services club puts their classwork into practice by helping those in need throughout the year. This year, they will be working in collaboration with the Nursing Club to do activities with older adults in a local nursing home. They also plan to help a soup kitchen prepare and serve meals on Thanksgiving Day and host a talent show in the spring. In the past, they have worked together to buy gifts for children who otherwise wouldn’t receive gifts on Christmas. The Human Services Club meets every Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Hardenbergh 117a. Interested students can contact Vicky Burgh-Harris at burghhav@sunyulster.edu.

NURSING CLUB

The nursing club is very active on campus and the local community. Members have held health fairs, blood drives, holiday card signing, health walks, and collected and distributed food for the food pantry. They also run the Salvation Army holiday angel tree that pops up in Hardenbergh every Christmas. This year, they will be running a session of holiday arts and crafts at a local nursing home around Thanksgiving. They meet at 1 p.m. the first Monday of every month in the nursing lab. Nursing students interested in participating can contact Ellen Tangney at tangneye@sunyulster.edu.

SUAA

SUAA (SUNY Ulster Art Association) gives students the opportunity to develop personal work for their portfolios.  Last year SUAA painted the mural in Vanderlyn outside of the Vice-President’s office. In the past, they have gone on a museum visit to Boston, made cards at the Woodstock School of Art, and visited the Storm King Art Center. They meet in VAN 261 at 1 p.m., typically on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month. For more information, contact Chris Seubert at seubertc@sunyulster.edu.

VET TECH CLUB

The Veterinary Technology Club’s primary goal is to help animals in the community. They have hosted pet owner education at SUNY Ulster, raised money for Kevlar vests for Kingston’s Police K-9 unit, donated new instruments to the UCSPCA, paid for students to attend continuing ed seminars by the NYS Association of Veterinary Technicians, and hosted internationally known speaker Temple Grandin in 2012. Students have also volunteered in a TNR program for feral cats with the UCSPCA and arranged rabies and microchip clinics held at SUNY Ulster. They won an award for Collegiate Philanthropy from the Mid-Hudson Fund Raising Professionals Chapter in 2011.  The club meets every other Wednesday (when SGO doesn’t meet) in HAR 207 at 1:15 p.m. Interested students can contact Beth Alden at aldenb@sunyulster.edu or Sandy Wiltshire at wiltshis@sunyulster.edu.

WRITING CLUB

The Writing Club meets every week to share the creative writing of its members. They respond to prompts and bring in their own work for discussion and critique. Some members have published work workshopped at meetings. The club meets in DEW 104 on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Interested students can contact Nicholas Haines at hainesn@sunyulster.edu.