When I first got to Wesleyan, I was completely and utterly overwhelmed and intimidated by the sheer number of opportunities that existed. These included on and off campus meetings, speakers, service opportunities, events etc. How was I, a timid freshman, going to navigate that type of environment? I would look at every flyer I passed, hoping that it was advertising a meeting I was interested in, but was often disappointed that the meeting had already happened. I would read bolded words on brightly colored paper pasted to bathroom stalls anticipating my pathway into the world of Wes activism, but once again, saddened because the event was earlier that night. So what was I to do? I gave up.
I came back from winter break and realized I couldn’t leave it up to fate or a flyer in a bathroom stall. As time progressed, I overheard upset student after upset student feeling the same frustrations that I had experienced. Events were planned and those who were not on the e-mail list or reading Wesleying religiously would miss the opportunity to be more active in the Wesleyan student body.
So who cares? What’s the importance of being involved, either on campus or off? Active involvement fosters a community of engaged citizens, students who are aware of their local, national and international surroundings. They are not willing to let injustices and inequities fly under the radar. When we leave Wesleyan, we no longer will be a part of a small insular liberal bubble, but instead a part of the real world, a world that does not think critically about everything we see, read and experience. By involving yourself in service, activism and awareness, you will better prepare yourself for post-Wesleyan life while engaging with the community you currently reside in.
Thus, after two years of walking past those old flyers, something needed to change. To promote active citizenship and engaged students, the Office of Community Service has created WesPACT, a community blog that advertises events, info sessions, speakers, service opportunities and general ways to be more involved on campus and in the Middletown area. PACT stands for Promoting Active Citizenship because the goal is to create a community of active citizens, students who are aware and passionate about the world we live in. We seek mutually beneficial relationships between students and the Middletown community, where both sides contribute and gain.
PACT not only is for the student hoping to become more involved, but also for student groups and organizations to spread the word about what they are doing. The blog includes an easy form to send in information about a group’s event. This blog not only will help students get involved, but will help advertise for groups.
With all of this being said, PACT will be nothing without the support of the student body. The more information we receive from students, the better it will help other students become more active.
If you are interested in helping make PACT a vibrant part of Wesleyan’s campus life, please come to our Info Session WEDNESDAY October 27, 8pm, PAC 104. We really need all the help we can get to make this the place to look for ways to be involved!
If you are interested in having your info put on PACT, go to http://pact.stugroup.wesleyan.edu/about/ and fill out “this form.”
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