Rutgers University student organizations

Rutgers University hosts over 700 student organizations, covering a wide range of interests. Governed and funded by student government, students can organize groups for any political ideology or issue, ethnic or religious affiliation, academic subject, activity, or hobby. Notable student groups include the Daily Targum, the second oldest collegiate newspaper in the United States, established in 1869, the Philoclean Society, a literary society, the Rutgers University Glee Club a male choral singing group established in 1872 among the oldest in the country, as well as the Rutgers University Debate Union.

Rutgers University Student Assembly

Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) is the overarching student government at Rutgers University. RUSA acts as the voice of all Rutgers students and is composed of delegates from the local campus councils, professional school councils, and several special interest groups. Professional school councils send a number proportionate to their school size. In addition the following organizations send one (1) delegate: the Board of Governors (student representative), the Board of Trustees (student representative), the Off Campus Student Association, the Asian Student Council, the United Black Council, the Latino Student Council, the Queer Caucus, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, the Equal Opportunity Fund, and the Residence Hall Association.

The Council of Presidents is an congregation of the presidents of each of the council and professional school councils that sets the agenda for RUSA and acts as the chief brain tank of student governance at Rutgers.

In addition to this large assembly, a side branch of RUSA contains the Allocations Board. This board of students allocates student fees to the 300+ student groups at Rutgers. In order to receive funding all of these groups must follow guidelines set forth by RUSA.

The executive board used to be internally elected by RUSA members but in the Spring of 2010, the RUSA Constitution was changed to allow Rutgers Students the ability to vote for their President, Vice President, and Treasurer. The President of RUSA is charged not only with the duty of chairing any RUSA and Council of President meetings but also acting on behalf of all Rutgers University students. On April 30, 2010 the Rutgers student body had their first democratically elected student government President Yousef J. Saleh sworn in as President and Chair of RUSA.^[1]

Executive Board Position (2010–2011)	Name
President	Yousef J. Saleh
Vice President	Matthew Cordeiro
Treasurer	Anthony Weigand
Corresponding Secretary	Katherine Yabut
Recording Secretary	Rebecca Pero
Parliamentarian	Jorge Casalins

Term	President	Local Council
2010-2011	Yousef J. Saleh	College Ave. Campus Council
2009–2010	Werner Born	Engineering Governing Council
2008–2009	Christopher Keating	College Avenue Campus
2007–2008	Jim Kline	College Avenue Campus

• Rutgers University Student Assembly

Rutgers Residence Hall Association

The Rutgers University Residence Hall Association (RHA) is an organization designed to serve the residential population of Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway. As stated in the RHA constitution, "the mission of this organization shall be to celebrate the unique campus residential cultures while bringing together the larger New Brunswick/Piscataway residential community. RHA will provide education, service, and social programming, as well as leadership development opportunities and serve as the voice of the residential population by acting as advocates for change."

The foundation of the Residence Hall Association is a system of hall governments. Each residence hall, apartment complex, and suite complex elects a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and additional positions considered valuable. All residents are welcome at hall government meetings.

Each hall vice president represents their residents at Residential Council meetings. The Residential Council also includes the respective Campus Chair and Vice Chair.

Each hall president represents their residents at General Assembly meetings, which include the members of the Executive Board.

The Executive Board of RHA is composed of Executive President, Executive Vice President, Internal Affairs Director, Public Relations Director, Advocacy Director, National Communications Coordinator, Executive Secretary, Executive Treasurer, and the four Campus Chairs.

Executive Board Position	(2011-2012)
Executive President	Frederick Grant Whelply III
Executive Vice President	Monisha Shivakumar
Internal Affairs Director	Cortney Brewer
Director of Programming	Not Applicable
Public Relations Director	Kathleen Sindoni
Advocacy Director	Jeniffer Jung
National Communications Coordinator	David Osworth
Executive Secretary	Andreana Barefield
Executive Treasurer	Matthew Brazza
Cook/Douglass Residential Council Chair	Jack Hummel
Cook Residential Council Vice Chair	Michael Lee
Douglass Residential Council Vice Chair	Rachel Daddio
College Ave. Residential Council Chair	Danit Weiner
College Ave. Residential Council Vice Chair	Ireh Shin
Busch Residential Council Chair	Prachi Baodhankar
Busch Residential Council Vice Chair	Jineta Raval
Livingston Residential Council Chair	Luisa Gutienez
Livingston Residential Council Vice Chair	Sindu Parvathaneni

^[2]

Other Governing and Programming Associations

• Engineering Governing Council
• SEBS Governing Council
• Graduate Student Association
• Newark College of Arts & Sciences Student Governing Association
• Rutgers University of Camden Student Government
• Rutgers University Senate
• Rutgers University Programming Association
• Mason Gross Student Government Association

Newspapers, magazines and other media

• The Daily Targum is the official student newspaper of Rutgers University, published daily Monday through Friday while classes are in session, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Founded in 1869, it is the second oldest collegiate newspaper in the United States.(http://www.dailytargum.com)
• The Johnsonville Press is a weekly online journal which focuses on alternative, subjective news and opinions regarding the ongoing activities of the Rutgers University and New Brunswick communities. (http://www.johnsonvillepress.com)
• The Green Print is the official weekly newspaper of the Cook Campus, founded in the 1960s featuring environmental, general and entertainment news as well as a fine arts section.
• The Rutgers Centurion is a monthly conservative magazine. (http://www.rucenturion.com)
• The Medium is a satire newspaper at Rutgers.(http://www.themedium.net)
• Rutgers Review is a bi-weekly arts and entertainment newspaper (http://www.rutgersreview.com)
• Caellian is a paper printed from Douglass College, the all-female residential college at Rutgers.
• RLC-WVPH is a freeform student-operated radio station. (90.3FM The Core)
• WRSU-FM is a faculty-operated radio station. (http://www.wrsu.org)
• RU-tv, the Rutgers University Television Network. The network is a predominantly student run organization that monitors on-campus television and features many student produced programs such as Wake Up Rutgers, Inside Rutgers, SportsKnight, and Academic Review Sessions.
• The Anthologist A literary journal.
• Objet d'Art Literary, Arts, & Culture magazine
• Black Voice/Carta Latina
• Conversasian
• Hanwoori - The Korean-American Newsletter at Rutgers

Secret organizations

Throughout its history, Rutgers has had several secret societies on campus, including the Brotherhood of the Golden Dagger (1898–1940), Sword and Serpent (1872), Casque and Dagger (1901) and Cap and Skull (1900–1969, 1982–present). Only Cap and Skull is still in operation. However, Cap and Skull is now university-sanctioned, has shed much of its secrecy, and is a general society.

Honorary organizations

• Cap and Skull is a senior-year society at Rutgers University, founded on 18 January 1900. (http://capandskull.rutgers.edu)
• National Society of Collegiate Scholars[1]
• Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honors Society [2]
• Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity [3] - ΦΣΠ
• Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity[4]
• Phi Beta Kappa Liberal Arts Honors Society [5]
• Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society [6]
• Alpha Zeta Agriculture Honors Society [7]
• Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society[8]
• Phi Kappa Sigma Boss Fraternity[9]

Community service

• Rutgers University Dance Marathon annually raises over $300,000 for the Embrace Kids Foundation and is the largest student run philanthropy in the state of New Jersey. (http://marathon.rutgers.edu)
• Rutgers Readers is an organization that sends students into local schools to read with young students (http://www.geocities.com/rutgersreaders)
• Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children - the Rutgers chapter is just one of the many college chapters around the country for the national organization ([10])

Academic clubs and organizations

• The Philoclean Society, founded in 1825 one of the oldest collegiate literary societies in the United States, and among the oldest student organizations at Rutgers University.
• The Rutgers University Debate Union (http://debate.rutgers.edu)
• Academic Team
• Biochemistry Club
• HP Agora
• Society of Physics Students
• Society of Women Engineers[11]
• Society of Hispanic Engineers[12]
• Undergraduate Anthropology Club
• Undergraduate Geographic Society
• Undergraduate Student Alliance of Computer Scientists
• Multiplayer Gaming League
• Outdoors Club
• Student Linux User Group
• Rutgers Entrepreneurial Society
• Rutgers Formula Racing
• Rutgers Solar Car Team
• Rutgers Veterinary Science Club
• Rutgers Meteorology Club
• Rutgers Photography Club
• Rutgers IEEE

Political organizations

Political party affiliated groups

• Rutgers College Republicans (http://www.rugop.org)
• Rutgers Democrats ([13])
• Rutgers Libertarians([14])
• Green Party
• The Young Americans for Liberty at Rutgers University

Activism and issue advocacy groups

• American Muslim Affairs Committee
• Amnesty International
• Association of International Relations
• Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Rutgers University
• Culture Jam: Students Against Excessive Consumerism
• Humans Against Meat
• Institute for Domestic & International Affairs
• LLEGO The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender People of Color Union at Rutgers University
• The Mason Gross Project
• Rutgers Against the War(RAW)
• Students for a Free Tibet
• Rutgers Take Back the Night
• Tent State University
• Ubuntu
• Rutgers United for the Welfare of Animals (RUWA)

Cultural or religious organizations

Ethnic organizations

• Arab Cultural Club
• Argentinian Student Association
• Asian Student Council
• Association of Indians at Rutgers
• Bengali Students Association
• Black Student Union
• Cantonese Club
• Central and South American Alliance
• Chabad House at Rutgers University
• Chinese Dance Troupe
• Chinese Student Organization
• German Club
• Hellenic Cultural Association
• International Students Association
• Japanese Cultural Association
• Karaoke Club
• Korean Cultural Group
• Korean Students Association
• Latino Student Council
• Lebanese American Students of Rutgers University
• Rutgers Organization of Nippon Students
• Rutgers Association of Philippine Students
• Rutgers Taiwanese American Student Association
• Turkish Student Association
• Union of Cuban American Students
• Vietnamese Student Association

Religious organizations

• Rutgers Pastafarians
• Rutgers Hillel, founded in 1943, is a chapter of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, serving an estimated 5,500 Jewish students with a purpose to "enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world." (http://www.rutgershillel.org)
• Bahá'í Campus Association of Rutgers University
• Campus Crusade for Christ
• Catholic Students Association
• Chabad Jewish Student Organization
• Christians on Campus
• Chinese Christian Fellowship^{[dead link]}
• Coptic Orthodox Fellowship
• Filipinos in Christ
• Indian Christian Fellowship
• Intervarsity Multi-Ethnic Christian Fellowship
• InterVarsity Rutgers Graduate Christian Fellowship
• InterVarsity Rutgers Christian Fellowship^{[dead link]}
• Islamic Society at Rutgers University^{[dead link]}
• Korean Christian Fellowship
• Manna Ministries
• RU Pagan Student Association
• Resurrection Ministries
• Rutgers University Sikhs
• Korea Campus Crusade for Christ
• Muslim Student Association

Chabad House

The Chabad House at Rutgers University is a community center for Jewish students operated by the Orthodox Jewish Chabad movement. It was established in 1978. In 2010 it announced a $10 million fund raising campaign to add a 55,000 sq. ft. expansion to its existing 35,000 sq. ft. building.^[3][4] The old building, completed in 1996, was the third of many Chabad houses worldwide designed as architectural reproductions of the residence of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York.^[5]

Performing arts groups

Dance Groups

• Performing Dance Company
• Tap Troupe

Music Performance Groups

Choral Ensembles

• Kirkpatrick Choir - a mixed choir made up of mainly music majors and non-music majors who are exceptional vocalists. Their repertoire represents all areas of choral masterworks, sacred and secular, as well as both significant a cappella music and major works with orchestra. Currently under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gardner.
• Rutgers University Glee Club - an all-male choir founded in 1872 and the eighth-oldest college glee club in the United States of America. Currently under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gardner. (http://gleeclub.rutgers.edu)
• University Choir - a larger mixed ensemble which performs standard choral repertory. Currently under the direction of Professor Mark A. Boyle.
• Voorhees Choir - an all-female choir established out of Douglass College in 1927. Currently under the direction of Professor Barbara Retzko.

Instrumental Ensembles

• Wind Ensemble - one of the leading wind bands in the United States. The ensemble presents concerts at the highest artistic level, and has recorded a number of compact discs. Currently under the direction of Dr. William Berz.
• Symphony Band - Standard and contemporary literature for wind band. Currently under the direction of Professor Darryl Bott.
• University Orchestra - performs an ambitious concert series each year. The Orchestra's concerts include symphonies by Berlioz, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, and Mahler, and orchestral showpieces by Smetana, Elgar, Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky, and Bartok. Currently under the direction of Professor Kynan Johns.
• Sinfonia - An orchestra of undergraduate students and talented players from the Rutgers community. Currently under the direction of Professor Kynan Johns.
• Concert Band - Transcriptions of orchestral works and standard band literature. Currently under the direction of Professor Timothy Smith.
• Rutgers University Marching Band - founded in 1915, currently under the direction of Professor Timothy Smith.

Other Ensembles

• Collegium Musicum - a small ensemble dedicated to the performance of Renaissance music. Currently under the direction of Dr. Andrew Kirkman.
• HELIX! - Premiering contemporary music.
• Jazz Ensemble - Training high-caliber jazz musicians since 1971.
• Opera At Rutgers - Opera at Rutgers prepares students for the world of professional opera. Each year a full opera production is mounted. Opera Workshop performs fully staged scenes programs. Opera At Rutgers also hosts outreach programs and Master Classes with renowned artists.
• Percussion Ensemble

Theatrical groups

• College Avenue Players (http://www.collegeaveplayers.com)
• Livingston Theatre Company (http://rultc.org/)
• Cabaret Theatre (http://www.cabarettheatre.org)
• Film & Theatre Alliance
• A 4 Effort (Improv Comedy)
• Rutgers Night Live

A cappella singing groups

• Deep Treble - Rutgers first co-ed a cappella group, founded in 1998. In 2001 and 2007, the ensemble advanced to the ICCA Finals held at Lincoln Center in New York City, and in 2004 it placed 3rd in the Northeast Regional Semi-Finals. (http://www.rudeeptreble.com)
• The OrphanSporks - Rutgers' second co-ed a cappella group, founded in 1999. In its first year of competition in 2010, The OrphanSporks won 1st place at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) Quarter-Finals and won 2nd place at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Semi-Finals held at Rutgers University.
• Casual Harmony - Rutgers first and only award-winning all-male a cappella group, founded in 2003. (http://www.casualharmony.com)
• ShockWave - Rutgers only award-winning, all-female a cappella group, founded in 2004.
• Kol HaLayala - Rutgers Jewish A Cappella Group
• First Light (a cappella)

Greek life

Main article: Rutgers University Greek organizations

Rutgers University is home to chapters of many Greek organizations, and a significant percentage of the undergraduate student body is active in Greek life. Several Fraternities and sororities mainain houses for their chapters in the area of Union Street (known familiarly as "Frat Row") in New Brunswick within blocks of Rutgers' College Avenue Campus.

Chapters of Zeta Psi and Delta Phi organized at Rutgers as early as 1845. Chi Psi fraternity was the first fraternity to own a house on campus, the same "Lodge" currently owned by the fraternity. Presently, there are over fifty fraternities and sororities on the New Brunswick-Piscataway campus, ranging from traditional to historically African-American, Hispanic, Multicultural and Asian-interest organizations. Greek organizations are governed by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. The New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University has a chapter of the only active co-ed Pre-medical Fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon, as of 2008.^[6] Twelve organizations currently maintain chapters in New Brunswick without sanction by the University's administration.

References

1. ^ http://www.dailytargum.com/news/rusa-treasurer-wins-presidency-1.2245638
2. ^ "Rutgers RHA". http://rha.rutgers.edu/meettheeboard. Retrieved 2010-09-20. 
3. ^ Furthering Jewish Study at Rutgers, Wall Street Journal, December 3, 2010.
4. ^ http://www.dailytargum.com/news/chabad-house-expands-center-s-aspirations-1.2181203 Chabad House expands center’s aspirations, Rinal Shah, Daily Targum, March 5, 2010.
5. ^ http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D17F7395D0C748CDDA80894DE494D81 $5 Million Lubavitcher Center Nearing Completion;A Noted Brooklyn Facade Recreated at Rutgers, New York Times, January 7, 1996.
6. ^ Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at Rutgers University, accessed 9 October 2008.

External links

• Rutgers University
• Office of Student Development and College Affairs