Although there are already more than 400 registered student organizations (RSOs) on Illinois State University’s campus, students inspired by their personal passions continue creating new RSOs that connect fellow Redbirds with similar interests.
Learn more about some of the RSOs that are new to campus and how you can get involved:
The Kat Walk
One day, Jayda Peoples was searching YouTube and discovered the topic of modeling; something she couldn’t imagine doing herself. But upon further thought, Peoples, now the president and founder of The Kat Walk, decided to give modeling a try.
“The whole reason I started modeling was because I wanted to gain more confidence,” Peoples said.
Peoples is a senior elementary education major at Illinois State. Originally from Matteson, Peoples spent time in Champaign, where she gained inspiration from The Kat Walk student chapter there and decided to bring it to Normal.
The Kat Walk encourages students to join who are interested in learning modeling and performance techniques, hair and makeup practices, and displaying or boosting self-confidence. Peoples said everyone is welcome to join no matter their gender, sex, race, or size. According to Peoples, The Kat Walk believes, supports, and promotes that everyone can be a model and can practice building and demonstrating confidence.
“I never would have pictured myself being a model or starting a modeling RSO, but I’ve gained so much confidence and personality through it,” said Peoples.
She said there is a special culture fostered by The Kat Walk; a culture that is not limited to one certain group of people. “It’s for everyone,” said Peoples, adding that the RSO strives to embody a culture of inclusivity and positivity.
Friends of Doctors Without Borders
When Emily Drew traveled to Kenya over the summer for an alternative break, she had no idea that it would lead her to co-founding a new campus RSO: Friends of Doctors Without Borders.
Friends of Doctors Without Borders was launched at Illinois State by Drew and Delaney Reynolds, both sophomores and biology neuroscience physiology and human behavior majors on the pre-med track. The RSO co-presidents met in class and became study partners last year.
After Drew returned from Kenya, she wanted to get involved with Doctors Without Borders, a global health organization, and discovered the Friends of Doctors Without Borders group she could bring to campus with the help of Reynolds.
“Our mission is to educate people on global health inequities,” said Drew. “It’s a unique organization because it’s one of the only ones pulling from multiple majors like health sciences, public health, pre-med track, nursing, and more.”
“Anybody who cares about global health inequities can join,” said Reynolds.
Friends of Doctors Without Borders is planning a blood drive January 27, 2023, to donate blood to those in need. In the future, they plan to host a documentary night about the humanitarian crises in Ukraine, and they hope to bring in professionals to speak about global health issues.
“It’s really about bringing a community together,” said Reynolds. “It’s focused on the care side, and how to care about global health issues.”
Family Matters Parenting Group
As a parent starting college, Honesti O’Neal wanted to create a resource for parents who are also students in college, which led her to founding the Family Matters Parenting Group.
O’Neal is currently a senior accounting major who plans to complete her master’s degree at Illinois State after graduation. She became a parent in high school and wanted to create an environment at college for parents to get to know each other and each other’s families.
“I started noticing that people would come to me for parental support because they knew I had a child, so I figured I could connect parents with other parents and resources through an organization,” said O’Neal.
O’Neal’s RSO meets every third Wednesday of the month and hosts occasional special events, such as an upcoming series of parenthood workshops being planned for the fall semester.
Originally, O’Neal assumed only parents would join the group. But after receiving interest from non-parents, the Family Matters Parenting Group also welcomes the support of allies and hopes to form a support group within their organization.
“I want all parents to be a motivational tool and benchmark for all college and/or teenage parents,” said O’Neal. “Because if we can do, anyone can do it.”
Women’s Ice Hockey Club
The Women’s Ice Hockey Club was founded by Makenna Spearman, a sophomore middle school education major. Currently the president of the group, Spearman has been on the ice as a figure skater since she was three years old.
It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that Spearman gave ice hockey a try, and she fell in love with it. She heard ISU already had a men’s ice hockey club team, and she knew that she didn’t want to stop playing. This led her to starting the Women’s Ice Hockey Club.
“Hockey is a great way to make friends,” said Spearman. “You’re playing together, you’re practicing together, you’re always together. It’s also a really great workout.”
The Women’s Ice Hockey Club is currently open to anyone regardless of experience. Their season will run from September through February, and they will play 12 games against teams from across Central Illinois. They practice once a week on Tuesdays at the Bloomington Ice Center, also the location of their games. Their hope is to move into an official league next year.
