What does it mean to be a Spartan?
Passing through the gates of a buzzing Spartan Stadium on game day joining the sea of green and white? Planning a food donation event for Greek Week with your sorority sisters? Late-night lattes and studying at Sparty’s with your roommate?
With a million ways to be a Spartan, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities at MSU to shape your own story.
Maybe it’s getting your hands dirty at the Student Organic Farm focusing on sustainable farming practices or researching the next biomedical engineering solution to enhance our quality of life.
Here at State, no two journeys are exactly the same.
Did you know, students spend an estimated 80% of their time at MSU outside the classroom? That means aside from MSU’s more than 400 academic programs, 300 education abroad programs, countless research opportunities, internships, Living-Learning Communities (we could go on), you spend most of your college experience, uh, experiencing college.
All that, to say, here, there is no single way to be a Spartan. And that’s the idea: Follow the vibes; define your own path.
Let’s take that literally for a moment. MSU’s campus is 5,200 acres (that’s just about 4,000 college football fields), making it one of the largest campuses in the U.S. There is an actual river that flows through it! Campus also leads in sustainability efforts having created a pedestrian- and bike-friendly campus ripe with gardens and green space.
And with that much space to explore, it’s no surprise campus life is just as expansive. With more than 1,200 student organizations and clubs on campus, over 20 intramural sports, 20+ Big Ten sports teams to cheer on, a host of annual programs like Sparticipation and the Arts & Crafts show, there's always something to do.
Whether joining the University Activities Board to plan events for your fellow Spartans, fine-tuning your radio voice at Impact 89FM or visiting a Career Services fair to explore opportunities, there is an entire world (or, at least an entire campus) of experiences waiting for you to discover and communities for you to find.
We can’t list them all here (your brain would melt), but you may find yourself at the MSU Multicultural Center, the first freestanding multicultural facility of its kind on campus. The MC offers meeting spaces, an amphitheater, and an overall welcoming space that recognizes and celebrates marginalized students. Similarly, the MOSAIC Center for Education and Outreach, housed in the MSU Union, is dedicated to uniting Spartans across difference and acts as a hub for sharing numerous resources to students looking to get involved.
Speaking of the MSU Union — just go check it out for yourself. It’s historic (and just turned 100 years old). There are tons of helpful resources (and great coffee). It also has an amazing smell (you must experience it).
Many of the resources mentioned above are housed under a central umbrella called Student Affairs. These groups and their dedicated staff work hard to provide opportunities for involvement, leadership and hands-on learning experiences to all Spartans.
It’s here at MSU that you will build essential life skills and lifelong connections. Student Affairs aims to be a cornerstone of support, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed at MSU.
It’s a tall order. Because when you consider 1,200 student orgs, 400 academic programs, 300 education abroad options, dozens of clubs, teams, campus jobs, research gigs and lab partners, you end up with a campus equation that equals not just a million, but even infinite ways to be a Spartan.