JMC Student Senate

Part of making the best as a student in Madison is being involved outside of class. It helps to build friendships as well as an out of classroom learning experience. For me, being involved means being in a student organization. As a sophomore I was elected to the James Madison College Student Senate. JMCSS is a student led body which works to better the Madison community and to foster relationships between students, professors, and alumnus.

Since I joined, I have been part of putting on academic events through student senate which include the Alumni pizza night in which students meet graduated Madison students and discuss life after college in a non-formal setting. I have also helped with the Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy field party. Each major has a field party, which allows professors to interact in a social setting with current students, as well as students who have not yet chosen a major. The event is my favorite because many good discussions have happened between my peers, professors, and I about subjects otherwise completely mundane to our studies.

Our largest annual event is the James Madison Charity Ball. Each year a candidate is nominated and honored by the college and students, while proceeds go to the honoree’s charity of choice. This is a great opportunity to socialize with students across all the Madison majors as well as professors and faculty, many of whom give heartfelt speeches about things dear to them about Madison (namely that year’s honoree). The music, food, and happy atmosphere make the event an unforgettable evening of fun. It really makes being involved in James Madison worthwhile.

Being a college student can be difficult. Constant vigilance is required to maintain good study habits. Having a good work ethic is only part of the equation though. Relaxation and being social are also key. Getting involved in any way in James Madison or at MSU in general is a great way to meet new people and take a break from school. For me, that outlet is James Madison Student Senate, but there are countless options to choose from at Michigan State.   

Jeremy

Junior 

PTCD

Finding the Perfect Study Abroad

Michigan State University prides itself in consistently having one of the largest Study Abroad programs in the country. When I first visited MSU as a senior in high school the presentation I sat through placed a lot of emphasis on studying abroad. My tour guide stressed that there are more than 275 programs to choose from in over 65 countries and all continents, including Antarctica. Yet, as crazy as it sounds I remember thinking that I would most likely never find a program that would work with my schedule. I assumed because I was going to be in a residential college there would not be a program over the summer that would go towards my very specific majors, let alone be in a country I was actually interested in. I was frustrated until I learned that James Madison College sponsors multiple Study Abroad programs available during the summer and both fall and spring semesters.

At first, I thought studying abroad was going to be impossible being in a residential college but I could not have been more wrong. This semester I was accepted to study Comparative Republicanism in Rome and Florence for the summer. Once I looked into it, I realized James Madison sponsors programs specific to both of my majors— International Relations and Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy (PTCD). The Study Abroad program for PTCD just so happens to be hosted in my dream country, Italy. Not only do I have family in both Rome and Florence but I also have been studying Italian as my Madison language for the past two years.

There is a program that is over the summer, in the country of my dreams, and is specific to my major. For anyone who has the desire to travel and study in another country, there is definitely a program out there for you. Everyone is telling the truth when they say Michigan State and its residential colleges have the best Study Abroad programs in the nation! 

Gabriela 

Sophomore

IR &PTCD