Special interest organizations
Cheerleading
THE BEAVER DAM, WHITE-OUTS, BLACK-OUTS, PURPLE PALOOZA.
Advisor: Morgann Rode
Captain: Autumn Critchfield
The Bluffton student body supports friends, classmates and floormates on the field,
court and diamond. Cheerleaders get the crowd involved and entertain during halftime
of football and men's basketball games.
cheerleading@bluffton.edu
CHEER/stunt
Advisor: Morgann Rode
Bluffton University’s Cheer/STUNT program will focus on advanced tumbling and stunting skills, and compete at regional competitions. more about Cheer/STUNT >
College Republicans
Advisor: Jason Swartzlander, 419-358-3406
The purpose of this organization is to make known and promote the principles of the Republican Party, to aid in the election of Republican candidates at all levels of government and to develop political skills and leadership abilities among Republican students as preparation for future service to the party and the community.
Brave Space
Advisor: Heidi Mercer, 419-358-3209
| President | Alexis Link |
| Vice President | Alicia Loch |
| Secretary | Kori Frey |
| Treasurer | Allyson Fuqua |
Brave Space is a student led organization that seeks to promote a positive and inclusive atmosphere by working to raise awareness of and support to students that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, on a continuum of sexual orientation and gender identity, and their allies (LGBT+). >>> Facebook
esports
Adviser: Zachary Walton, 419-358-3082
| President | Jeff Arnett |
Bluffton University's esports club seeks to create a competitive, yet supportive, environment in which students learn teamwork, leadership, strategy and real time problem solving skills through gaming events and competitions. Our esports group plays game like Madden, Overwatch, League of Legends, Rocket League and more!
Current students contact Bluffton senior Jeff Arnett if interested in joining. Prospective students contact admissions counselor Sam Shrider to learn more about this program and Bluffton University.
GAMING CLUB
Advisor: Zachary Walton, 419-358-3082
| Guildmaster | Nick Rohr |
The purpose of The Gaming Club is for Bluffton students to get together with each other and learn new games (both video and board games). The events that we would hold would be wind-down events for students to come and have fun playing games with others through a combination of board, video, card and trading card games.
Gender Perspective
Advisor: TBD
| President | Liandrin Thomas |
| Vice President | Lucas Keller |
Bluffton University Gender Perspective serves both women and men by creating community
and by bringing about awareness of topics of interest to women through activism and
advocacy both on and off campus. Gender Perspective will be involved in outreach and
consciousness-raising efforts and advocating for change where it may be needed to
better the quality of all women's lives. At the heart of Gender Perspective's constitution
is the belief that no one member is more liable or responsible for the organization's
maintenance or activities. All members are equal in importance. In keeping with Bluffton's
policies of respect and non-exclusion, all Bluffton students, whether female or male,
are welcome to participate.
International Connection - Bluffton ICon
Advisor: Louise Matthews, 419-358-3207
| Leadership Team: | Anteneh Asratu |
| Leaderhsip Team: | Chanhee Hwang |
| Leadership Team: | Nicole Centofanti |
International Connection [ICon] provides an opportunity for students to build relationships
and cultural understanding through interaction with friends from around the world.
All Bluffton students are invited to participate in weekly gatherings at The Lion
and Lamb Peace Arts Center as well as other ICon-sponsored activities, both on and
off campus. A weekly email keeps interested students informed of upcoming multicultural
opportunities. Consider not only how you can benefit but recognize that your experiences
and perspectives can also benefit others. Your involvement in ICon is welcome at any
point during your Bluffton campus experience. Bring a friend and show up! Contact
Louise Matthews to be added to the email list.
JAPANESE ANIME CLUB
Advisor: Zachary Walton, 419-358-3082
| President | Miriam Fike |
| Vice-President | Jenna Paul |
The purpose of this organization is to enrich the campus community by offering students
the opportunity to learn about Eastern culture through films and DVDs which portray
the unique religion, myths, art and history of Japanese culture.
Marbeck Center Board (MCB)
Advisor: Kevin White, 419-358-3218
| Chairperson | Tyler Ackerman |
Marbeck Center Board (MCB) serves as the main student programming group responsible
for planning and executing events. The events are designed to cultivate community
on campus through shared experiences.
While it operates out of Marbeck Center, MCB programs many activities including variety shows, game nights and traditional campus favorites like Dam Jam and Finals Breakfast. Marbeck After Dark (MAD) events occur every Friday night at 9 p.m. Build Your Own Aquarium, Chipotle Night, Tie-Dye, Harry Potter Night and The Roommate Challenge are just a few of the offerings during the school year. In addition, MCB hosts bingo with prizes of a different theme every Monday.
MCB membership is open to students from all majors and class standings. At least two seats on the board are reserved for incoming first-year students starting in the fall semester. Serving on MCB is just one more way students can answer the question, “How are you involved on campus?”
Check out the MCB Facebook page for event information!
Mascots: J Denny and Jenny Beaver
Advisor: Sara Kisseberth, 419-358-3484
J Denny and Jenny are ambassadors for athletics, admissions, advancement and student
life. Do you want to get in the suit? Auditions are held annually following the "reveal"
for the current year's mascots, typically in January or February. Performers must
be full-time Bluffton students, maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and be in good disciplinary
standing. Secrecy is a major part of performing as J Denny or Jenny Beaver. Tell no one that you are applying! The selection process includes a written application,
in-person interviews with the selection committee and a final in-suit audition.
>>> more about Bluffton's mascots
>>> application process
Multicultural Student Organization (MSO)
Advisor: Tyson Goings, 419-358-3306
| President | Quincy Salcido |
| Vice President | Isaac Zickafoose |
Multicultural Student Organization is the sum of organizations formerly known as African
American Student Organization (AASO) and The Bluffton Latina Society (BLS). The vision
of Multicultural Student Organization is to shift from its exclusiveness and to bring
together students of ALL cultures for the purpose of building awareness and promoting
diversity in the Bluffton community. We hope to encourage better race relations and
contribute to Bluffton University's anti-racism work on campus.
P.E.A.C.E. Club
Advisor: Paul Neufeld Weaver, 419-358-3327
| President | Rowena Zuercher |
P.E.A.C.E. stands for Peace Education and Action Community Endeavor. The organization's
purposes are to educate students about current peace-related issues and to encourage
and organize appropriate action in response to these issues through consciousness-raising
endeavors.
Peer Awareness Leaders (PALs)
Advisor: Rae Staton, 419-358-3449
Peer Awareness Leaders (PALs) is a student-led organization that coordinates programming relevant to today’s college students. Issues such as healthy relationships, substance use and abuse, mental health, suicide awareness and prevention, stress relief and domestic violence have all been the subject of events in recent years.
PALs members strive to be influential educators who bring a diverse awareness to the campus community so students may make responsible decisions. The organization is an extension of the Bluffton student life office and consists of student volunteers.
SERVE
ADVISOR: Holly Metzger, 419-358-3297
| Coordinator | Emily Rush |
| Coordinator | Hannah Brown |
SERVE is a service-oriented group which promotes missions and service opportunities for students off-campus in the local area and beyond. Special on-campus mission awareness days and acts of service to the campus community are also planned and implemented.
The Student Alumni Association
Advisor: Claire Clay
| President | Taylor Aurand |
The Student Alumni Association at Bluffton University, in accordance with the mission and goals of this institution, is committed to strengthening relationships between current students, alumni and the university, and developing an awareness of the importance of supporting Bluffton University and preserving its traditions. Its members will support events created for students and alumni and encourage participation in and interaction at such activities helping to cultivate relationships and to communicate the importance of stewardship to the university.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Advisor: Amanda DeMoine
President: Tami Groff
Vice president: Colton Shrader
Sustainability Club
Advisor: Jonathan Andreas, 419-358-3290
| President | Emily Rush |
| Vice President | Courtney Perry |
| Secretary | Jenny Dorsey |
| Treasurer | Cassie Reinhart |
The Sustainability Club is a group of students that meets to coordinate efforts on
projects to improve the environmental sustainability of Bluffton University. Members
come from a variety of backgrounds, majors and interests, and one does not have to
know anything about sustainability before joining. The club focuses on collaborating
on student-led projects that can change Bluffton and on educating the student body
on conscious living in regards to creation. The type of projects undertaken by the
club will vary depending on the various interests of members, but can include projects
such as an annual Sustainability Report, energy saving challenges and an educational
week.
>>> Sustainability Club website
Ultimate Frisbee
Advisor: Darryl Nester, 419-358-3483
| President | Ben Black |
| Vice President | Micah Hunsberger |
The purpose of this club team is to have fun and fellowship while playing Ultimate
Frisbee competitively with peers at Bluffton as well as at other schools. >>> Facebook
Young Americans for Liberty
Advisor: Jason Swartzlander, 419-358-3406
This organization seeks to train, educate and mobilize youth activists committed to "winning on principle" and to cast the leaders of tomorrow and reclaim the policies, candidates and direction of our government.
Young Democrats
Advisor: Perry Bush, 419-358-3278
The purpose of the Bluffton University Young Democrats is to pursue the ideals of liberty, justice and freedom for all. The pursuit of these ideas is through support of the Democratic Party and its ideas, ideals and candidates.