Students at Monmouth University who are looking to get more involved on campus should consider joining the Social Justice Club. The Social Justice Club is a growing club that allows students to be curious about and tackle the social issues happening on the campus, impacting our community, and beyond. This club allows students to meet like-minded, curious individuals who share a passion for understanding the things that shape our lives.
Last November, the Social Justice Club held a panel discussion that featured three University professors to talk about their work prior to becoming an educator. Explaining her interests in social justice, Johanna Foster, Ph.D., and Associate Professor of Sociology, said, “I was very much connected to racial justice and gender justice movements in the 1980s and early 1990s before I became a professor. When I was in college, I was a part of a social justice club as I wanted to make a difference not just on my campus but in the larger world.”
Foster believes this is an experience students can get out of being in the Social Justice Club. Foster explained, “One of the benefits of being part of the Social Justice Club is that students have this amazing chance to share their concerns, learn what might be troubling other students, and then develop strategies to try and solve some portion of the issues together. To be able to be in groups like that, for me, has been one of the most energizing and impactful parts of being in a community.”
Speaking on her own experience in the club, Kristen Frawley, senior social work and sociology student and club secretary, said, “The Social Justice Club has shaped my experience here at Monmouth by giving me a platform to learn, advocate, and work towards solving issues I care about. Involvement in this club has made me feel much closer to my campus community by connecting me with others who share my passions, whether that’s individuals I’ve met or organizations we’ve collaborated with.”
Jen McGovern, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology and Political Science, spoke on the panel hosted by the Social Justice Club last year. She also believes that students should join the club. McGovern said, “Students who join will also get the opportunity to work towards issues they care about. In the past years, students in this club have been able to connect with other student clubs, faculty, and administrators to work on projects they care about. “
The club operates as a united front, working together to tackle prominent issues. Frawley expressed that members have the liberty to do projects and events on things they are personally interested in.
Frawley emphasized, “If individuals are passionate about something, the club supports that passion! It’s also empowering to see an issue and be able to do something about it, from spreading awareness to implementing solutions.”
For students looking to get involved with the Social Justice Club can contact Kristen Frawley or follow the club on Instagram, @mu_socialjustice.
