As spring semester gets underway, many students may be left looking for new ways to get involved on campus. Maybe fall semester was too boring or maybe you just need a better distraction from your classwork. A cappella groups, Greek organizations, improv groups and more require applications, tryouts or rushing that can be time-consuming and anxiety-inducing. We’ve done some of the legwork for you and come up with a list of student groups you can join with no commitments and no applications. – Scene Staff

The Representation Project

Lindsay Tracy

If you were moved by the “I need feminism because…” whiteboard campaign staged this past fall, you may want to consider joining the Representation Project, a newly approved Student Union group that aims to spread the word about gender equality and feminism. The group, which is looking for more members this semester, focuses on discussing gender issues and representation in media. It has general body meetings several times a semester and smaller committee meetings a few times a month that focus on specific topics, such as intersectionality, masculinity and sexuality, and sexual health.

The group is also planning community service projects within St. Louis and awareness campaigns to spread the word on gender equality and female empowerment. Anyone is encouraged to join the group and contribute to discussions. If you are interested in learning more or joining, attend one of the group’s events, like its panel on Feb. 11, co-hosted with Alpha Delta Phi, concerning gender issues.

Claire Komyati

Club Running Team

Zach Kram

I saw a post on Yik Yak the other day asking if Wash. U. could build tunnels to get from the South 40 to main campus as if we were a snowed-in school in the Northeast. This post came when there was no snow and temperatures in the double digits, mind you, which leads me to recommend that students opt against the path of hibernating indoors for the remainder of winter and instead take a path through Forest Park.

The Club Running team meets at 4:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. after Daylight Savings Time) from Sunday through Thursday at the Clocktower if it’s warm or in the South 40 House lobby otherwise. No running experience is required, and the team ranges from competitive distance gurus who race every weekend to the occasional jogger who wants to cross into Forest Park once or twice a week. So pull on those tights, grab a pair of gloves, lace up your running shoes and skip the lines in the South 40 Fitness Center to get in a good workout.

WUTV

Maisie Heine

Whether you are considering the entertainment and broadcast industries as a future career option or are just interested in media, WUTV can help you become more engaged with the production process. WUTV doesn’t have just one set goal but fosters a variety of projects. While some members get involved with acting or television broadcasting, others learn the tricks and trades of behind-the-scenes production, management and technology.

WUTV creations, which can be found on YouTube and Vimeo, range from dating game shows to “MTV Cribs”-style dorm room tours. There are also interviews with campus guests, news broadcasts and other event coverage. The club also does co-productions, providing students looking to make a short film or sketch with the resources to bring their visions to life. Online, you can see past projects people have created for WUTV’s biannual festival, which range from fun to trippy to dramatic and everything in between. Anyone interested in becoming a staff member or just working on a great idea is encouraged to check out the group’s website or go to one of its meetings on the third floor of the DUC.

Bee School

Noah Jodice

There’s only one place on campus to go if you want to hang out with bees. The Bee School is Washington University’s lone beekeeping society, and it revels in its niche status. Beekeeping may seem like an unusual hobby, but it’s one that the group loves. It currently has two hives on campus, with plans to add a third in the Wrightons’ backyard. The group conducts hive inspections and is preparing to harvest honey in the spring. It’s not all beekeeping suits and honey; the club also hosts meetings, workshops and other social events, with plans to bring in guest speakers as well.

The Bee School is self-professedly low-key, with irregular meeting times and hours, but its passion for beekeeping is constant. Anyone can get involved, regardless of previous bee-related experience, by contacting the group’s co-presidents, freshmen Adam Becker and Val Hirschberg. New members are also encouraged to check out the club on Facebook for regular meeting information.

Student Life

Kimberly Henrickson

If you rushed a sorority, you might have heard of the prohibited practice known as “bid promising,” which is essentially when someone from a sorority “promises” a bid to a new member either verbally or by allowing her to take something out of the recruitment room as a “gift.” Well, if you’re deciding to rush Student Life, I’ll promise you a bid right here, right now. We’re non-exclusive; if you’re looking to get involved, just locate one of our many editors’ information either in print or online and shoot an email. StudLife is a community of writers, editors, designers, programmers, photographers, artists and even those people who do nothing but attend meetings and parties. You can contribute as much or as little as you want. Come with an open mind, ideas and maybe some pizza for the staff. We’ll be happy to have you.