Illinois State has a ton of Registered Student Organizations on campus. There are so many opportunities to get involved and meet new people, and one of the great things about ISU is that more and more RSOs are constantly being brought to campus. One of my favorite parts of college was getting involved in things like Her Campus and in my sorority. However, I think I really would’ve enjoyed the newest RSO coming to campus this month: Girl’s Club.
The organization was started at the University of Alabama by Katy Gibralter and Delaney Galbraith. They wanted to establish a space for girls looking to make their way in a field heavily dominated by males: sports. Through their website, social media accounts, podcasts, and blogs, Gibralter and Galbraith inspire a new generation of young women who love sports and want to succeed professionally. Especially since most women are still torn down, accused of only liking sports because players are attractive, and ignored when they want to contribute in the workforce.
The group has grown into several chapters at colleges across the country, and ISU is just one of many opportunities for girls to get their foot in the door and learn more about the job opportunities the sports world has. The group also seeks to create chances for girls to network and practice skills that will benefit them after they graduate.
Here at Illinois State, President Kyren Rudolph and Vice President Madison Eichhorn are preparing to hit the ground running later in November. They, along with the rest of their executive board, are excited to make Girl’s Club a force on our campus. The club’s first meetings will be November 29 and December 6 in State Farm 132 at 7:30 pm. They are planning on having an ISU alumni who works for the Chicago Bears talk for the second meeting, which is already a great opportunity to learn from someone who has experienced the business side of sports first-hand. The girls are starting strong to create a safe space to grow personally and professionally in the world of sports, which isn’t the easiest thing to do, even in today’s world where women are still ridiculed for working in sports.
So, if you’re even considering the idea of working in sports or you actually watch the football game while your friends are only there for the photos and beer, then Girl’s Club may just be something you should check out!