Del Mar home to nearly 60 Registered Student Organizations
Joseph Mapue used Rush Week to show students how they can help better humanity.
Mapue, who has been a member of Del Mar’s Social Work Student Association for two years, has had a personal connection to the contributions the association does.
“Last semester, I helped build water stations for migrants crossing over. It was very rewarding because you’re trying to prevent death and that alone is a humanitarian effort,” Mapue said.
Late last year, the SWSA heard of immigrants dying from dehydration and wanted to help. Four members built three water stations along State Highway 77, for the first time. Inside the lids, the members wrote “call 911 to be rescued” from the heat.
The club raised money to build the water stations through the project by South Texas Human Rights Center.
“I try to contribute what I can and stay active within the club,” said Mapue, who plans to pursue social work due to the impact the SWSA has had on him. “I want to help people.”
While students passed through the first floor of the Harvin Center for Rush Week Feb. 12-16, Maupe tried to persuade students to sign up.
“I’m shy and try to go out of my comfort zone,” Maupe said. “So students can experience helping the community and the people around here.”
With the 57 registered clubs on campus, ranging from student government to the different athletic clubs, Rush Week allows students to personally talk to members about the opportunities each club offers.
John Beauford, president of the Student Government Association who works with the Student Leadership and Campus Life office, said the clubs, on average, usually pass on information to about 150-200 students.
“From statistics the more involved on campus a student is, the more likely they are to stay in school and graduate,” Beauford said. “That’s one of our big pushes … students can learn leadership skills that employers are looking at now due to the job market.”
Beuford is also part of a new club called Viking Fellas.
Cassandra Martinez, a Collegiate High School senior who plans to pursue a career as a social worker, thought the SWSA gave valuable information to students.
“It was a good idea to share, maybe not all students know what exactly it is to be a social worker, to be pre-informative,” Martinez said, “and let students know that it’s a possible career choice.”
