Image from FHSU Criminal Justice Club Facebook Page
BY JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
There are over 125 clubs, organizations, associations, and alliances for students to choose from at Fort Hays State University. Each week, TMN will be providing an article feature on one of these groups. Stay tuned for more coverage on these groups, you might just find your new niche!
This week’s feature is the Criminal Justice Club.
Tamara Lynn, who serves as co-advisor of the Criminal Justice Club as well as chair & Associate professor of Criminal Justice, gave a summary of what the CJ Club is all about.
“The Criminal Justice Club provides both criminal justice majors and minors an opportunity to engage with others in major specific activities,” Lynn said, “The club is a resource for new and existing members to learn from others, engage in social activities, and travel to regional and national conferences to expand their resume as well as to learn important skills that will be beneficial in their future career paths.”
Lynn then expanded on the multitude of ways that the club proves to be advantageous for its constituents explaining that the club provides members with opportunities for career-specific service, professional development, and networking with professionals.
“It is also a pathway to join the Delta Tau Omega Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association/Lambda Alpha Epsilon,” she said.
Criminal Justice Club Social Media Coordinator Isaac Schoen expanded on Lynn’s overview.
“CJ Club serves as an opportunity for criminal justice majors/minors to come together for volunteer opportunities, competitions, and participation in events throughout the year,” Schoen said.
He continued by mentioning the effect that Criminal Justice Club has had on him personally and giving due credit to the club’s advisors.
“Slowly watching everyone get closer as the time progresses has been my favorite part of being in the club,” he said. “We have three of the best faculty advisors around and I have made lifelong friends during my time as a member of CJ Club.”
When questioned about a favorite memory or trip within the Criminal Justice Club, Lynn struggled to name just one as she has been the advisor or co-advisor for a total of 14 years.
“Favorite trips would include Washington, D.C, Southeast Texas – including Huntsville to tour the Walls Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections – and visiting Galveston, San Francisco, Austin, Cleveland, Baltimore, Kansas City, and others,” she said. “Every trip has included an educational, service, and fun component.”
She went on to provide her list of the most significant components of being involved on campus as a student saying student engagement is important for several reasons.
‘Helping students make friends with those who have common interests, expand the student’s resume with various activities and events related to their major or minor, promote networking with professionals in the field, and develop problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills, which will benefit the student in his or her future career, and others.”
Schoen also spoke on the benefits of being involved in a student organization and gushed about the endless opportunities that FHSU provides outside of just the Criminal Justice Club.
“Being involved really gets you out of your comfort zone at the start and you end up meeting so many great people in the end. We are extremely blessed to have so many active clubs and organizations on campus,” he said. “The university does a great job promoting the organizations and clubs throughout the year.”
More information about the criminal justice club can be found on their social media pages: Facebook- FHSU Criminal Justice Club, Twitter- @FHSUCJClub, and Instagram- @fhsucjclub
Meetings are open to all criminal justice majors and minors. The club meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm in Rarick 155, unless other events are going on. They are also currently preparing for the Regional Conference that takes place at the end of October in Warrensburg, Missouri.