True Cost of Getting Involved at ISU

December 4, 2018

NORMAL, IL – With tuition bills on the rise, students at Illinois State University may want to think twice about the added costs of getting involved in on campus.

At Illinois State University (ISU) many students find themselves involved in extracurriculars with hidden fees they did not expect. From Chemistry Club to Greek organizations, students are presented with endless opportunities to get involved in their own ways.

Senior Alli Kowalski is a founding member of social sorority Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) at ISU. The dues for active members of the organization are around $600 per semester. When asked about additional fees, Kowalski said “T-shirts are always optional, and sometimes socials are optional. Although barn dance and formal usually cost a little out of pocket, that’s usually about $20 per person. Philanthropy costs can add up, but that depends on what members put in.”

The costs of social events for AOII members average around $50 to $60 per person. AOII is also one of the few sororities on campus without a house. While the AOII house is currently in the planning stage, members still have the chance to interact with one another through official social events.

Not having an AOII affiliated house causes the base price of the sorority to be lower, allowing the members to have extra money to spend when planning events. If the dues per semester were to rise Kowalski said, “It would depend on how much higher because I barely make it through as it is. I definitely would not pay more than $750 to $800.”

Senior Ricardo Lopez is the president and founding member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity at ISU. Lopez founded Sigma Alpha Mu last spring after transferring from the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC). Each semester members pay their dues of $311 making it the most inexpensive social fraternity on campus. Additional fees (including in-house living and insurance) can cause the original prices to go up.

Greek apparel can also add to the cost. “T-shirts are out of pocket, but it is not bad to have some cool Greek gear to wear around campus,” said Lopez. When asked if he would still be a member if prices were higher, Lopez said, “It all depends how much the dues would be. If they go up and caused it to reach 500, then I probably would not do it. Some fraternities here at ISU are that expensive and I would not do it.”

If Greek organizations are not of interest to a student, ISU offers many other student groups to join. Many of these organizations are even major-specific.

Senior marketing major Chris Garcia is a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) at ISU. As a member of AMA, Garcia has access to networking events that allow members to meet with marketing professionals. The fee to join AMA is $80. Additional costs include social events, fundraising events and trips to marketing events. “I never put in any more than $40 into AMA each year,” said Garcia. AMA provides several benefits to the members. Garcia said, “I love being a member of AMA. It provides me with the networking assistance that I might not get otherwise.” For Garcia, higher pricing may affect his choice of being in AMA. Garcia said, “Although, if the costs were higher, I might consider not being a member.”

Registered student organizations (RSO), such as the Leadership Organization of Brotherhood Outreach Success (LOBOS) do not have a fee to join. Vice President Aaron Troupe said, “For fundraising we have members pitch in and collaborate with other organizations to raise money. As far as events, we reach out to performers and speakers and ask them their price. We also estimate the price of travel fees, hotel fees, and car rentals for guest.” Troupe finds it challenging while hosting events and managing the organizations money. Troupe said, “We bring the costs of events up to the RSO funding board to see if they approve the amount we are asking for. Things such as decorations we usually have to pay for our upfront and then we get reimbursed for everything except the tax.”

Troupe said, “I, personally, as a board member, spend $100 on apparel for members.” LOBOS is an organization which supplies a better understanding and appreciation for the cultural diversity of the Black and Latino community. “I would still join because it is a leadership organization and it provides members with a safety net on campus. It gives a place for your voice to be heard,” said Troupe.

Clubs at ISU, such as the Chemistry Club, have members pay a modest $5 fee for the entire year. Senior biochemistry major Dylan Poole said, “I love being involved in chem club. As a chem major, it gives me the opportunity to interact with professors and students within my major. There are no additional fees involved in the club which is great because I do not have to worry about extra fees during the school year.” The professors provide students with many resources throughout the semester. If someone is interested in chemistry and is tight on money, Chemistry Club may be the right fit.

Whether someone is joining a Greek organization or a nonaffiliated Greek organization at ISU, the possibilities are endless. Before someone joins a club, they should consider speaking with a member of the organization to understand how much money may or may not be coming out of their own pocket. Hidden fees are not talked about initially, yet they have a big impact on whether or not members can continue to participate in an organization.