Getting Involved at McMaster: Part Four: Student Societies

"Getting Involved at McMaster: Part Four: Student Societies", July 2007

Yet another great way to get involved in the McMaster community is to participate in your faculty’s society. Even though all of the executive positions will be taken for this academic year, you still have the ability to become a First Year representative. Becoming a first year rep will help pave your way into the exec when the time comes in second term, so why not get involved? You will see various representatives of these societies during Welcome Week (dressed in their suits), so ask them questions. I have included all the societies in this article, and to be fair, have alphabetized them.

The Society of Arts and Science Students (SASS), represents the smallest faculty on campus. Although small, the Arts Scis are mighty. This year’s president, Anne Van Koeverden, apparently rules with an iron fist and a loving heart, and also likes kittens. I’ve heard that she is also a really awesome girl. Why wouldn’t you want to get involved with SASS? You can check out their website, at http://www.sassweb.ca and look at all the reasons why I’m jealous that I’m not an Arts Sci.

Money, money, money! Money! If you are in Commerce, then you will probably wish to join the Degroote Commerce Society. Last year the society celebrated its fortieth anniversary. The greensuits are loud and proud, and you will see (and hear them) during Welcome Week. Their office is located in MGD (aka the Commerce building) 132. For more information about all the clubs (yes, they have several) that fall under the Degroote Commerce Society check out http://www.degrootecommerce.ca .

Who are we? Engineers! What do we do? School work! HA! The engineers are special…they have more class time than any of the other faculties on campus. Yet, they still have a ridiculous amount of faculty pride. The Redsuits, who are known on campus for various hijinks and pranks, are members of the McMaster Engineering Society. Take a look at their office, located in JHE 121 to see how random these guys (and gals) are. Their website is http://mes.mcmaster.ca/ and while you are there you can examine all of the things the MES does (good or bad) throughout the year and get a heads up for what you may be in for.

The McMaster Bachelor of Health Sciences Society is where all the supafly kids hang out. Boasting a buddy system (a first year being paired up with an upper-year student) an awesome formal, many other events during the year, and a lounge that can only be accessed by a key, Health Sci is a very unique faculty at McMaster. Mandark Gandhi, the chair of the BHSS, assures that this year will be an awesome one, and wants all students in Health Sci to get involved. For more information, check out their website http://www.bhss.ca/index.php?n=Main.HomePage

If you are one of the many people in the faculty of Humanities, you can become a member of the McMaster Humanities Society. The MHS offers various ways to socialize throughout the year, including wine and cheese meetings, meet the prof nights, musicals, art exhibits, various guest performers, and many more. If you are in any way artistic, then being involved in the MHS is for you. During the school year, their room in Togo Salmon Hall B109A is usually open, and there are many things that are going on (some kind of odd, and some pretty standard). You can peruse their website at http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~mhs/ and take a look at all the stuff the MHS has to offer.

M-A-C! Pimpin’ and a Mackin. The Kinesiology Society, located in IWC 130 is active, athletic, and also very loud! Kin students boast activities that no other faculty societies on campus can, such as the Kin Games (an inter-university Olympics held for only kinesiology students), many mystery road trips, and weekend camping trips. During Faculty Day, you are going to have LOTS of fun with the Blue Boners, and discover how they got their name. Although their website (http://www.mcmaster.ca/kinesiology/kss.cfm) is somewhat lacking, don’t be afraid to talk to an upper year student during Welcome Week for more information about the KSS.

Unfortunately, when I went to look up information on the McMaster University Nursing Students Society, all I got was information from a few years ago! Sorry Nurses L It looks like you will need to find out information on your own during Welcome Week!

*edit August 18th 2008*
The McMaster Science Society's website is now up and running!!
Their website is http://www.mac-sci.com . There is a ton of information on their site for Science kids, so check it out!

Last, but certainly not least, is Social Science. We’re Soc Sci. We’re awesome. One of the largest faculties on campus, Soc Sci students also have a lot to boast. Every year they have a great formal, go on mystery road trips, have bar nights in other cities, and do lots of other stuff. This year, they are also offering a contest exclusively for incoming first year students, something that has not been done at McMaster before. Their website, http://www.macsocsci.com/modules/news/ has TONS of information on all the services available to Social Science Students. Jon Borrelli, the president for the last two years is a very friendly and helpful person. Sometimes I manage to frazzle him, but nevertheless Jon is still awesome. So, go visit him (and the rest of the executive) during the school year in KTH 101A.