From a common interest in hot tubbing to a passion for glowsticking, this year’s Quad Day will be in no shortage of new registered student organizations for students to join. While some organizations already began in the spring semester, this will be their first opportunity to gain exposure to the entire student body. Here are just a few of the newest RSOs to look out for: 

Pink Illini

According to president and senior in LAS Ellie Kaplan, Pink Illini’s mission is to reduce the risk and promote the early detection of breast and ovarian cancer while providing support for high-risk female students. Kaplan has a family history of breast cancer, which was a part of why she wanted to bring the RSO to the University campus.

“I hope that Pink Illini can one day pair up with a larger organization so there can be a national college program for young women at high-risk for cancer,” Kaplan said.

Since the club is brand new, Kaplan is currently looking for students interested in joining the executive board. Throughout the year, Pink Illini plans to host informational and educational seminars from medical professionals, visits from breast and ovarian cancer patients and survivors, and fundraisers for breast and ovarian cancer organizations.

The Next Step

Though the RSO was founded last semester, Quad Day will be the non-profit organization’s first recruitment appearance. Along with providing weekly Latin dance lessons, it offers service opportunities for members to raise money for different organizations in the community.

“Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary,” said Alejandra Berber, RSO president and junior in LAS.

The first general meeting will take place on Sept. 10 at the La Casa cultural house at 7 p.m.

NAMI-UIUC

When Aaron Chen, sophomore in LAS, saw a lack of mental illness resources and support for students, he started a chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, at the University.

“Having had personal experiences with mental illness, I have a unique insider’s look into the struggles and hardships facing many college students,” Chen said. “My ultimate hope with this RSO is to utilize the support of the student body to ensure that mental health concerns are never an obstacle towards enjoying everything that college has to offer.”

NAMI-UIUC is an official affiliate of the NAMI, a nationwide grassroots organization dedicated to raising awareness, educating others and providing support for all those affected by mental illness, according to Chen.

Some of NAMI’s plans for this semester include helping and participating in NAMI Champaign County’s annual NAMI Walk and holding social and stress-busting activities.

“By joining NAMI-UIUC, you will become a part of the largest grassroots mental health organization in America, and as a result, our voice will be counted and heard in the broader mental health movement,” Chen said.

The ILL Harmonic

The ILL Harmonic evolved from a group of three guys jamming out and singing in the practice rooms of Allen Hall.

“What inspired us to start the RSO was just a desire to make great music and enjoy ourselves,” said David Dahowski, treasurer, business manager and sophomore in LAS.

As an all-male a cappella group, the members of the RSO practice roughly nine hours a week and perform intermittently throughout the school year. In the past, the group has sung at events such as the Campus Property Management Spring Block Party and the Spring 2013 Velocity Dance Show. Last April, the ILL Harmonic hosted its own show with a guest performance from another a cappella group, No Strings Attached.

“Aside from getting to spend nine hours a week with a group of pretty — more or less — cool guys, members of the Ill Harmonic get to sing A Cappella music from a diverse range of genres, from country to 80’s rock,” Dahowski said.

Auditions to join the ILL Harmonic will be held from Aug. 26 to 28 in Gregory Hall from 5 to 10 p.m. Students can come to the booth on Quad Day to sign up for an audition time.

Illini Glowsticking (Luminotix)

For president and sophomore in Engineering Jimmy Guo, this RSO’s mission is simple: teach, practice and perform glowsticking, an art in which one swings glowsticks around on a pair of strings.

“We teach each other moves, practice them and then sometimes we’ll have a choreographed performance, such as during the AAA Fashion Show,” Guo said.

Illini Glowsticking meets once a week to improve and learn new tricks and encourages students who are new to glowticking to attend a meeting.

“For anyone who is nervous, don’t be. We’re a really relaxed group and open to newcomers,” Guo said. “Just remember to bring a pair of shoelaces or strings.” 

104 Degrees: The Illini Hot Tub Club

What originally began as an ordinary “girl’s night” eventually became a weekly ritual for sophomore in LAS, Haleigh Draper.

One night, Draper and her friend Jackie Douglas decided to check out the hot tub at CRCE to take a break from their rigorous class schedules.

“As time progressed, we added in more girls we met and it just became our weekly thing,” Draper said. “It was so much fun to hang out in a big group like that, so Jackie and I turned to each other and had the same idea: why not let other people join in on the fun? We got to work the next day to make it an official RSO.”

The club meets once a week at CRCE and brings together all students (it is no longer a “girl’s night”) looking to escape the stress of college life. In addition to hut tubbing, Draper plans on doing fundraising through the RSO and putting together Finals Survival Kits to donate to members.

ILL Pandemic Dance Crew

While there may be numerous dance crews on campus, ILL Pandemic’s mission is to truly represent hip-hop and redefine how hip-hop dance is represented in the community. 

“There is so much unseen talent within students that go to the University, and ILL Pandemic is just an attempt to bring that out,” said Blessing Adeoye, RSO member and junior in LAS. 

Whether it’s breakdancing, popping, choreography or a different style of dance, the RSO caters to its members and works to challenge them as well.

“ILL Pandemic wants people who know or want to learn different styles of hip-hop dance to have the opportunity to practice their craft in a safe environment and be a part of the campus dance scene,” Adeoye said.

For those interested, the RSO will be have a dance clinic on Sept. 7 at 3 p.m., and auditions will be on Sept. 14 at 3 p.m.

Alice can be reached at [email protected].