Thompson Rivers University is a melting pot of ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and cultures presenting a smorgasbord of opportunities for students wanting to make the world a better place.

Students are actively encouraged to:
– Create class projects with a scope beyond the classroom
– Join off-campus groups
– Join or create on-campus clubs
– Seek positions with the TRU Student Union (TRUSU)
– Join on-campus committees
– Seek election to top-level boards at TRU

Natalie Reisle

Natalie Reisle is one such student and has taken “getting involved” to another level. While keeping up with her studies, she is also Vice-president External for TRUSU, on a quintet of university committees and a student representative on both the TRU Board of Governors and TRU Senate.

In her fifth year on campus and in the final stretch of her undergrad studies, it’s definitely taken Reisle a bit longer to complete her undergrad, but that’s OK with her. “It’s worth it,” says Reisel, whose studies have led to concentrations in Political Science and History“. If you can afford to do it, take the extra time to finish. I might have a little bit more debt, but I was able to do things that matter”

Do things that matter? Here are but three examples of Reisle making a difference during her time at TRU:

– Speaking out against campus budget cuts at top-level board meetings
– Improving the climate for female faculty members as part of the TRU Faculty Association’s Status of Women Committee
– Working towards a greener university as part of the TRU Sustainability Working Group.

As more and more TRU students adopt Mahatma Ghandi’s famous quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world, “they’re creating socially-conscious on campus groups like the Student Social Justice Society and TRU ECO, running in provincial and federal elections, helping organize community projects, and running for student council.

Why is this so? Reisle says the explanation is quite simple.

“It has a lot to do with TRU Being a real community, ” she says”. People can see where their decisions have an impact; they can see their decisions happening right away”.

TRU alum Matt Greenwood, left, and Donovan Cavers share a laugh at the Green Party of Canada table during the recent Welcome Back BBQ. Cavers is the local candidate for the federal Greens and Greenwood is a strategist. In 2006, Greenwood was the local candidate.

In 2006 then TRU student Matt Greenwood took his passion for Political Science and social justice to new heights when he signed on to be the Green Party representative for Kamloops and area in that year’s Federal Election. He didn’t win, but did collect 2,518 votes for a 4.72 per cent share. More importantly, Greenwood ensured the Greens were on the ballot and in the minds of voters

Did Greenwood’s extracurricular involvements during his time at TRU help spur this political ambition? He seems to think so.

“I was fortunate at the time when I was going that there was a groundswell in activities,” says Greenwood. “At the time I was going, there was a good group of people who were able to find each other and support each other and continue to do so.”

Feeding the homeless through the Pit Stop Soup Kitchen project and being a member of the Student Social Justice Society were other involvements for Greenwood. TRU ECO is an offshoot of SSJS.

A good friend of Greenwood is Donovan Cavers, a 2004 graduate of the Culinary Arts program and now owner and operator of Conscientious Catering, a company whose objective is to serve food produced closer to home and without harmful peticides. Cavers’ passion for more wholesome foods and believing he could make a career of it, was encouraged by his instructors

Like Greenwood, Cavers is being the change he wants to see not only through his business, but by following in Greenwood’s footsteps as a federal Green Party candidateIn 2008, 4,430 people voted for Cavers for an 8.11 per cent share, which was a sliver behind the Liberal candidate who collected 5,445 votes and 9.97 per cent shareThat and other reasons have led Cavers to being the declared candidate for the Greens for the next federal election.

LINKS
Looking to become more engaged in the TRU community? Here are a few links that could prove helpful:
TRU Student Clubs and Associaitons
TRU Student Union
TRU Committees
TRU Faculty Association
TRU Board of Governors
TRU Senate
TRU ECO
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