Aurora University

Student Organizations Index

Student organizations play an important role in campus life at Aurora University. These organizations incorporate rewarding learning experiences, leadership opportunities, exciting relationships, as well as enjoyment for all members. Organizations provide a means for people to become more involved with other students and the University. Not only is it an outlet for students with specific skills and interests to participate in activities that interest them, but it also helps to create a vibrant campus community which we all can enjoy.

All Aurora University students are eligible to participate in whichever interest related organizations they wish. There are currently more than forty-five student interest organizations at Aurora. Don’t see what you’re interested in on our list of student organizations? Start your own! Simply gather four other students who are interested in the same thing and identify a staff/faculty member to work with you as the advisor of the organization. After these steps have been taken, stop by the Office of Student Activities (Spartan Spot) and see the Assistant Director of Student Activities or visit the Forms and Orgs Handbook section of this website (www.aurora.edu/osa/forms.htm) for further information. The student organizations program is directed through the Office of Student Activities.

For more information regarding student organizations, please stop by the Student Activities Office located in the Spartan Spot - Lower Level of Stephens Hall or contact the Office of Student Activities at 630-844-6510.

Aurora University Students' Association:
The Aurora University Students' Association (AUSA) is the student-based governing body at Aurora University. Students are able to help manage any issues that may arise concerning students. AUSA is divided into three sections: Senate, Executive Board and Students-at-Large.

Activities Programming Board:
This body assists Student Activities in coordinating and sponsoring a wide variety of entertaining, cultural, educational, recreational, and social events on campus. The Activities Programming Board utilizes students' ideas to create a fun and energetic atmosphere on campus.

General Interest:

• Activities Programming Board (APB)
  The main programming board for Aurora University. Assists Student Activities in coordinating and sponsoring a wide variety of entertainment, cultural, educational, recreational, and social events on campus.
  Advisor: Jabari Harrell; jharrell@aurora.edu
• Aurora University Arts United (AUAU)
  Uses and creates all forms of expressive art to give back to the AU community. The organization works with other student organizations to create art that can be inspirational to both the creator and the community.
  Advisor: Stephen Lowery; slowery@aurora.edu
  
• Community Connection
  This organization unites all Aurora University students, whether they live on or off campus. They help commuters to get involved on campus as well as on campus students to get more involved in the local community.
  Advisor: Josh Beattie; jbeattie@aurora.edu
• Fashion Loves You (FLY)
  Gives students the opportunity to showcase self-expression and confidence through fashion.
  Advisor: Christine Flasch; cflasch@aurora.edu
• Feminist Society (formerly known as Gender Equity Alliance)
  Raises awareness of issues pertaining to sex, gender, and sexuality based on a feminist perspective.
  Advisor: Renae Franiuk; rfraniuk@aurora.edu
• Future Leaders of the World (FLOW)
  Educates students on the opportunities that exist for excelling in the management field. Students who have an interest in management can discuss pertinent topics and network with professionals already in the field.
  Advisor: Vincent Pelletiere; vpellett@aurora.edu
• Games Club
  Gives students the chance to develop the skills of strategic and critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork through the playing of a variety of games.
  Advisor: John Gudenas; jgudenas@aurora.edu
  
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
  Assists Christian students in growth toward Christ and faith in God by emphasizing prayer, fellowship and bible study.
  Advisor: Meg Bero; mbero@aurora.edu
  
• Organized Action Council (OAC)
  Focuses on students feeling unified. They promote success and feeling comfortable on campus regardless of race, sexual orientation, sex, creed, color, physical ability, etc.. They have frequent open dialogue on numerous important topics.
  Advisor: Rebecca Ruffin; rruffin@aurora.edu
  
• Pep Squad
  This organization provides an opportunity for artistic expression to all students through dance.
  Advisor: Mariann Hunter; mhunter@aurora.edu
  
• REal Solutions for Today (REST)
  This group serves as a support group to ensure that all students have a place to discuss problems. They promote social well being and help students to understand that they are not alone with their problems and that there are solutions to help them succeed.
  Advisor: Marcia Hanlon; mhanlon@aurora.edu
• Straight Edge
  Educates and promotes the positive facts, opinions, and social issues that deal with the straight edge lifestyle as well as the impact it has on hardcore music.
  Advisor: Jodi Koslow-Martin; jkoslow@aurora.edu
• Third City Epic
  Educates and builds on theatre skills to engage students through the use of dramatics while entertaining and diversifying the campus community.
  Advisor: Denise Blank; dblank@aurora.edu

Academic/Departmental:

• American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA)
  The Mu Delta Sigma chapter promotes professional, academic, and public awareness of criminal justice issues as well as higher standards of conduct, training, and higher education within the criminal justice field.
  Advisor: Brandon Kooi; bkoii@aurora.edu
• Club Fit (Fitness Instructors in Training)
  Promotes a healthy lifestyle to those in the local and Aurora University community through exercise and staying physically active throughout life.
  Advisor: Jen Buckley; jbuckley@aurora.edu
• Future Educators of Aurora University
  Encourages Aurora University education majors to pursue teaching as a career. Provides information on professional career opportunities in education and helps develop qualities that are basic to successful teaching.
  Advisors: Pam Ferdinand; pferdina@aurora.edu, Judy Maxwell; jmaxwell@aurora.edu
• Management Information Technology (MIT)
  Helps students learn about the Information Technology profession and better understand the process of preparing for and working within the IT profession.
  Advisor: Dave Dulany; ddulany@aurora.edu
• Political Science Club
  Helps students have a greater political awareness in the campus community. They also give students the opportunity to state their political beliefs freely through discussion on a variety of topics.
  Advisor: Jeanine Clark Bremer, jbremer@aurora.edu
• Pre-Law Club
  Helps students learn about the legal profession and better understand the process of preparing for and applying to law schools.
  Advisor: Doug Kieso; dkieso@aurora.edu
• Psychology Club
  Dedicated to facilitating and expanding scholastic excellence, experience, learning, and interest in the field of psychology.
  Advisor: Paula Biedenham; paulab@aurora.edu
• Science Club
  Helps members learn the many different aspects of science through community involvement, educational opportunities, speakers, and social events.
  Advisor: John Lloyd; jlloyd@aurora.edu
• Social Work Association (SWA)
  Provides a community for Social Work students at Aurora University to participate in advocacy, service projects, recreational activities, and social activities with an emphasis on educating themselves and others.
  Advisor: Donette Considine; dconsidi@aurora.edu
• Spartan Athletic Training Students Organization (SATSO)
  Supports athletic training students by promoting an open forum for education, discussion of pertinent issues, exploration in athletic training, and is also an avenue for community involvement.
  Advisor: Sarah Radtke; sradtke@aurora.edu
• Spartan Physical Educators Club (SPEC)
  Provides opportunities for students to enhance the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to succeed as future professional physical educators.
  Advisor: Alicia Cosky; acosky@aurora.edu
• Student Accounting Society
  Serves as a resource for learning and networking in the business world as well as a place to gather and discuss information with an emphasis on the accounting profession.
  Advisor: Mary Tarling; mtarling@aurora.edu
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
  Stands for the fellow athletes at Aurora University by representing them and enhancing their experiences at the institution. They respond to the Northern Athletics Conference and NCAA legislation on behalf of Aurora University and are the public voice of all student-athletes.
  Advisor: Michelle Roof; mroof@aurora.edu
• Students for Wellness
  Made up of all Junior and Senior Nursing students, they are committed to promoting holistic wellness among diverse communities using multi-faceted approaches to empower individuals and groups toward consciously living a healthy lifestyle.
  Advisor: Tess Leffelman; tleffelm@aurora.edu
• Student Marketing Association
  Discusses, gathers, and provides information to students about the business world with a focus on marketing.
  Advisor: Brian Vander Schee; bvanders@aurora.edu
• Student Nurses Association (SNA)
  Brings together and mentors students preparing for initial licensure as registered nurses, as well as those enrolled in baccalaureate completion programs. The group is dedicated to the ideals of the nursing profession and to the people that it serves.
  Advisor: Suzanne Novak, snovak@aurora.edu

Honorary:

• Alpha Phi Sigma (Criminal Justice)
  Recognizes students who have demonstrated academic success in the criminal justice major as well as in overall academics. Promotes rigorous scholarship, critical thinking, and life-long learning as well as elevates the ethical standards of the criminal justice professions.
  Advisor: Stephanie Walsh; swalsh@aurora.edu
• Delta Mu Delta (Business)
  Recognizes business students who have achieved academic excellence in their field and fosters the well-being of its members and the business community through life-time membership.
  Advisor: Ileana Brooks; ibrooks@aurora.edu
• Kappa Delta Pi (Education)
  This organization promotes excellence in and recognizes outstanding contributions of students within the field of education.
  Advisor: Jim Varney; jvarney@aurora.edu
• Lambda Pi Eta (Communication)
  This organization recognizes, fosters, and rewards the outstanding scholastic achievements in communication studies.  They also promote the study, criticism, research, teaching, and application of the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication.  
  Advisor: Toby Arquette; tarquette@aurora.edu
  
• Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman)
  Recognizes the high standard of learning and high scholastic attainment among the freshman at Aurora University.
  Advisor: Nancy Mactague; nmactag@aurora.edu
• Psi Chi (Psychology)
  Encourages, stimulates, and maintains excellence in scholarship of the members in all fields, particularly in psychology. Promotes members to be well-educated, ethical, and socially responsible members committed to contributing to the science and profession of psychology.
  Advisor: Renae Franiuk; rfraniuk@aurora.edu
  

Cultural/Ethnic:

• Black Student Association (BSA)
  Promotes cultural unity, empathy, and understanding not only amongst black students, but throughout the Aurora University campus community. They encourage cultural oneness through education, activities, and discussion on prevalent issues.
  Advisors: Jarrett Neal; jneal@aurora.edu and Giselle Betts; gbetts@aurora.edu
• Latin American Student Organization (LASO)
  Provides students with new friendships and greater awareness of Latin American cultures on campus. They promote the pursuit of leadership opportunities, networking skills, academic success, and community service.
  Advisor: Ilieana Brooks; ibrooks@aurora.edu
• Native American Club
  Promotes awareness, education, and celebration of the Native American tradition on the Aurora University Campus. They exist to fulfill a need for cultural enrichment and an understanding of tribal diversity within the campus community.
  Advisor: David Spencer; dspencer@aurora.edu

Government/Political:

• Appropriations Committee
  A standing committee of the AUSA. Exists for the purpose of distributing funds form the Student Activities Fee and the Orgs Budget. Funds are distributed fairly among the student organizations that request them through an analytical evaluation of the evidence presented by the organization.
  Advisor: Jabari Harrell; jharrell@aurora.edu
• Aurora University Student Association (AUSA)
  This elected body of students recommends courses of action and communicates students’ viewpoints to the administration, faculty and staff.
  Advisor: Jabari Harrell, jharrell@aurora.edu
• Greek Council
  Made of individuals from all Greek organizations, this body fosters togetherness among the involved individuals while providing Greek activities on the campus for all students. Any issues concerning Greeks are addressed through this council.
  Advisor: Brandy Raffel; braffel@aurora.edu
• Orgs Council
  This body establishes itself as a representative body of Aurora University’s student organizations. It serves as the governing body responsible for representing the student organizations, as well as addressing their needs.
  Advisor: Brandy Raffel; braffel@aurora.edu

Service:

• Circle K International
  A co-educational service, leadership development, and friendship organization, organized and sponsored by a Kiwanis club. They are dedicated to developing students into responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to serving others.
  Advisor: Denise Hatcher; dhatcher@aurora.edu
• Colleges Against Cancer
  Dedicated to helping reduce total cancer incidence and mortality through educational programs and support both on and off campus. Also welcomes cancer survivors and family and friends of cancer victims.
  Advisor: Cheryl Block; cblock@aurora.edu

Fraternity/Sorority:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (Omicron Alpha Chapter)
  The mission of this sorority is to cultivate high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, and to be of supreme service to all mankind.
  Advisor: Denise Hatcher; dhatcher@aurora.edu
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated (Pi Sigma Chapter)
  To stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom and the dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood and to aid downtrodden humanity and its efforts to achieve higher social, economic, and intellectual status.
  Advisor: Gerald Butters; gbutters@aurora.edu
• Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Incorporated (ETA Chapter)
  Unites sisters in the principles of achieving academic excellence, serving the communities in which they live and learn, preserving the sacred bond of sisterhood among women, and uplifting and advancing a cultural awareness among Latinos and those in the global community.
  Advisor: Maria Zamora; mzamora@aurora.edu
• Sigma Delta Gamma Sorority
  This sorority was founded at Aurora University and promotes diversity, sisterhood, excellence, and servicing the community as a whole. They welcome women of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs.
  Advisor: Julie Shoemaker; jshoemak@aurora.edu
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (Aurora University Colony)
  This sorority provides a sisterhood, and is dedicated to helping the community. They are dedicated to the transformative power of learning and help young women grow to become good outstanding adults in the community.
  Advisor: Karen Chachere; chachere@aurora.edu
• Xi Chi Omega Fraternity
  This fraternity was founded at Aurora University and they stand on the beliefs of brotherhood, service to the community, multiculturalism, and leadership.
  Advisor: Roy Garcia; rgarcia@aurora.edu
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (Nu Xi Chapter)
  This sorority is an organization designed to foster the ideals of sisterhood, scholarship, service, and finer womanhood.
  Advisor: Rebecca Ruffin; rruffin@aurora.edu