Your Registered Student Organization Is Completely Toxic If You See These 4 Signs | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Your Registered Student Organization Is Completely Toxic If You See These 4 Signs

If you see any of these behaviors, get OUT.

420
Your Registered Student Organization Is Completely Toxic If You See These 4 Signs
Samantha Gades

In college, extracurricular involvement is everything. Some people join Greek life or are student athletes, but a lot of college students join Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). UCF specifically has hundreds to choose from, so there’s something for everyone. However, no RSO is perfect, and some of them are even toxic. These are some of the patterns that I've experienced myself, so if you see any of these happening within your own organization, run for the hills.

1. They're excluding members.

If your organization holds secret meetings and only tells select few members about events, they’re being exclusive. It makes for awkward tensions among friends and silences a lot of voices from being heard. RSOs don’t have bottomless pits of money, so of course, they can’t include everyone for large events like trips and conferences. That doesn’t mean that everyone shouldn’t be given a fair chance to at least apply or show interest in such events.

2. An outside organization tries to gain influence.

This could be another UCF RSO, or it could be an organization from somewhere completely different. When any person or group from outside of an organization tries to change it, it usually results in chaos, confusion, and a loss of a cohesive vision.

3. Problems that should be addressed, aren't.

It doesn't always matter what problems plague a group; what matters is how they are dealt with. I’m a big believer that the executive board and any other leaders of an RSO are meant to represent the concerns of the students. If you’ve approached someone in charge with your concerns and find yourself feeling ignored, it’s not an organization worth being a part of.

4. It's the only extracurricular that you're "allowed" to be involved in.

For me personally, I’m someone that likes to have different circles of friends. I think that it can be dangerous to only have one circle and one community. What’s even worse is when members of a community try to discourage their members from being involved in other things, because they see it as posing some sort of threat. We should aim to promote personal growth instead of shoving the agenda of an organization down someone’s throat. No group or extracurricular should demand all of your time and discourage you from pursuing what makes you happy.


College is all about finding what works for you, and you shouldn't have to settle for being part of something that you're not passionate about. If you truly care about an organization but see problematic behaviors, try to inform a leader within the community about your concerns before leaving. There does come a point when enough is enough and if pressing issues aren't being addressed, that's when you know that it's time to exit.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1774
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1081
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200291
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20938
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments