By Rebecca Waskevich
Bellarmine eSports, Fruit of the Ville, Bellarmine University Dance Marathon and Pass the Torch have all joined the list of over 80 registered student organizations at Bellarmine.
A registered student organization, or RSO, is “a group for people to join with like interests,” according to Hannah Steen, assistant director of student activities. RSO’s receive support from the Student Activities Center and enjoy benefits such as reserving space on campus, gaining a budget through SGA, having access to catering and having a page through Engage, Bellarmine’s RSO website.
Bellarmine eSports became an RSO because “gaming is underrepresented at Bellarmine,” said Tanner Banks, the group’s leader. Banks gave a presentation before SGA at its first assembly meeting to formally be accepted as an RSO.
“eSports, or competitive gaming, is becoming more than a game,” Banks said. “What people need to understand is that e sports, in a lot of ways, is representative of the future.”
Banks also said eSports are about competing, making friends and being teammates.
Bellarmine eSports had around 30 people sign up to join the group at the involvement fair.
Bellarmine was also lacking a photography club until Fruit of the Ville members Emmanuel Fasipe and Monica Jackson presented at the SGA assembly and officially became an RSO.
Fruit of the Ville began with 13 members and had more than 70 students sign up at the involvement fair. “We want photography work that highlights Bellarmine and the things students are passionate about,” Fasipe said.
Jackson said the club wants to act as a campus resource, as well as a networking opportunity for photographers. “It’s supposed to be a learning experience,” Jackson said. “We don’t expect them to know how to use a camera.”
Bellarmine University Dance Marathon, or BUDM, began as the philanthropy project for Bellarmine’s sorority Phi Mu.“Dance Marathon is trying to grow and be more inclusive,” said Savannah Wafford, board member of BUDM.
BUDM has 13 board members, seven of whom are not involved in Phi Mu. Ryan Stevens, Abby Chism and Wafford presented on behalf of BUDM.
Pass the Torch is Bellarmine’s newest RSO. Andrew Reeves was the last person representing a new RSO to go before the SGA assembly.
“The idea was to bring students together from many faith traditions to do on-campus service and tie that to the mission of the university and our commitment to social justice,” Reeves said.
Melanie Prejean, director of campus ministry, said: “Pass the torch comes from the torch on Bellarmine’s seal. It is about education and teaching students about taking social justice into the world.”
To become an RSO a group must have eight active members, a full-time faculty adviser, a constitution and an RSO application.
“This gives students a chance to create their own organization and have a place on campus,” said Margaret Raabe, SGA vice president of RSO’s.