Student organizations at Oakland University are resuming meetings and planning events for the winter semester, offering students new opportunities to get involved on campus. With the start of the new term, many student-led groups are focusing on recruitment, campus engagement and awareness initiatives. Among them is the Sociology Club, a student-run organization that explores social issues and encourages discussion tied to sociology and everyday campus life.
Dwaine Watkins, a senior majoring in sociology and president of the Sociology Club, said the organization is working to expand its presence on campus as it continues to grow.
“We’re just trying to get our name out there,” Watkins said. “A lot of people don’t really know about sociology, so we’re just pushing awareness.”
Watkins said the club aims to provide a consistent space for students to talk through current issues and better understand how sociology connects to daily life. Discussions can range from broad social concerns to topics that affect students directly, including inequality, education and community involvement.
The Sociology Club meets every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in Varner Hall, conference room 515. Meetings are open to all students, regardless of major or academic background.
“You don’t have to be a sociology major,” Watkins said. “You don’t have to know about sociology at all. It’s just good to have new people who want to learn.”
At a recent Tuesday meeting, Watkins shared upcoming plans and goals before the group wrapped up with “Guess the Impostor,” a social deduction game that sparked laughter and interaction among members.
In addition to weekly meetings, the Sociology Club is planning initiatives this semester designed to increase student engagement and bring attention to issues that can be overlooked on college campuses. One upcoming effort includes a banner campaign focused on student hunger, an issue Watkins said impacts more students than many realize.
“We’re trying to connect sociology to what students actually experience,” Watkins said.
The club plans to participate in Hope and Honor on Jan. 27, an event featuring a speaker discussing Jewish resistance during the Holocaust that aligns with its focus on social justice and how history shapes current conversations.
“We’re trying to do things that connect what’s going on in the world to being a student,” Watkins said.
Watkins said student organizations play an important role in college life, particularly for students seeking community beyond the classroom. He said clubs help students develop leadership skills, meet new people and find support on campus.
Watkins added that the Sociology Club strives to make meetings approachable for students without prior experience in sociology, welcoming diverse perspectives and encouraging questions.
The club’s plans for the semester reflect a broader push across campus, as student organizations begin recruiting and setting goals for the months ahead. With dozens of active groups at Oakland University, from academic and professional to cultural, service and social organizations, students have plenty of opportunities to get involved.
“You never really know what you’ll like until you try it,” Watkins said. “And once you find something you enjoy, it makes the campus feel smaller.”
