College of Saint Benedict Top Questions

There are so many activities and groups on campus that it is impossible to participate in everything. I'm involved with the Pre-Law Society, Mock Trial, International Affairs Club, Model United Nations and various political organizations. These are just a select few, there are many, many more clubs available to a wide variety of interests. Many people go to athletic events, perhaps the most popular being St. John's Football. Many current students and alums come to watch these games. St. Ben's and St. John's also host a variety of guest speakers speaking on various topics ranging from religion to psychology to politics to name a few. There is always something to do on the weekend. Dances are very popular, but the school also does a good job bring different acts to campus such as comedy groups. There is also always some type of Fine Arts event going on as well. Students here typically leave their dorm rooms open to encourage others to come inside. On a regular week day night, students are either participating in activities, going to a school sponsored event or studying.

The most popular team on campus is the St. John's football team, followed by St. John's basketball, and then St. Ben's basketball. But people are involved in everything. I play basketball for St. Ben's and it's awesome I completely suggest trying out for a team. And even if you don't want to or have time for a varsity sport, try intramurals. i'm also on an IM volleyball team and i love it. And I never even played volleyball in high school. Most student's do leave their doors open and it's nice to just randomly start talking to people who walk by your door. Athletic events are very popular, especially football and basketball games you will be surprsed by the amount of people show up to them. if you are awake at 2 am on a Tuesday you could be doing anything, homework, watching a movie, skyping your friends, sneaking out of your boyfriends room. There's endless possibilities. The dating scene is basically the same as it would be anywhere else, sometimes it's hard to meet people from the opposite gender because they live on another campus, but there are always tons of guys and girls on both campuses. I met my closets friends at a bonfire that was hosted by some student group at the beginning of the year my freshman year. I only went because I wanted smores, and I ended up looking up youtube videos on someones phone for an hour. Each year there are so many tradition's you can't even name them all, but the coolest one is Pinestock. it used to be where they would have a band come in and play, sort of like woodstock, but starting last year they made it into more of a fetival where they have peopel performing all day, adn there was a dance at night. They had contests, i actually held my hand on a box for 12 hours trying to win a TV... I lost :( they made us spin in circles and throw an apple... But they had a ton of free food, clothes, bracelets, frisbees, it was pretty much epic. People usually party on Saturday nights, sometimes Friday and Saturday depending on the weekend and what's going on in the world of sporting events. But usually there isn't partying on weekdays. Frats and sororities aren't a big deal here, we only have charity based frats and sorority houses. On a Saturday night if you aren't going to drink theres actually a lot more you can do. they usually have some sort of performance going on on Saturday nights, theres dances all the time, you can always rent movies from the library, and you can go into st. cloud and find somthign to do there. Last weekend I went to a dance, then went out into town, came back an watched American PIe... it's amazing and you know it :) then the next day I did my homework and went shopping. When i go off campus it's usually to go shopping or go out to eat. But theres mroe thigns you can do like golfing, lasertag, sand volleyball, bowling it's a pretty big area theres a lot to do here.

The most popular groups are probably the sports, but there are plenty of groups for everyone. I am in a pro-life group that I absolutely love. It's great to be involved. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities here too. People party all of the time, even on the weekdays, but it is easily avoidable if you don't want to get involved in that.

All groups are popular on campus. Johnnie athletics always bring out a big crowd, and intramurals are very fun and competitive.

At CSB/SJU many of the students get involved in athletic teams, music ensembles, clubs, organizations, and all things that get the students involved. Our Football team is very well-known for its outstanding football history career and many students go to the games to support their fellow Johnnies. Intermural sports are also big here--everything from kick ball to ping pong. Many different music groups are also available--such as the symphonic band, wind ensemble, chamber choir, and even an accapella men's group. Clubs and organizations also vary from Pre-Med club, Spanish Club, and AKS (which is a service sorority).

Most popular activites on campus would probably have to be sports groups, either competitive or intramural. There are plenty of opportunities for non athletic students as well. Many subjects have a clud you can join and also there are alot of on campus volunteering opportunities you can participate in. One voluntering experience that I love to do at CSBSJU is something called Up 'Til Dawn which is a program that sends out post cards asking households to help donate to the St. Judes Childrens hospital. I do it every year and it is actually really fun. You can get together with a bunch of your friends and go get free food and just address envelopes for a few hours. Partying at CSBSJU is pretty much up to you, yes it happnes, no you do not have to participate if you do not want to. I mean what college doesn't have the drinking scene? It is just a matter of what you want to get yourself involved in. This is a wet campus however and there is a bar at each campus. Some things to do on Saturday nights that don't involve drinking would be to maybe attend a show that may be going on at the art center, or hnagout in your dorm with some girls and rent a movie. CSB is also located very close to St. Cloud so a trip to the mall is always fun for me and my friends.

There are many popular activities/groups. Obviously football games are huge but all sports are big. Also, non-athletic activities are very popular. For exapmle, bingo and school dances.

Any sports teams are probably most popular on campus. I used to be involved with the student ambassadors of CSB but I did not have enough time to focus on my studies, get enough sleep, and lead tours once or twice a week. A lot of Bennies do not leave their doors open on my floor but sophomore year is incredibly busy so most of the girls spend their time in the library studying. I wholeheartedly believe in the Bennie/Johnnie stereotype. I met my boyfriend two weeks into our first semester and we have been together ever since! :) I am not aware of the party scene because I choose not to drink and be associated with those kinds of behaviors. When I go off-campus, it is usually to go to work or to go home to visit my family.

Students really just do their own thing! There's a lot of club sports teams that anyone can join, and most people do join something like that, or play intramural sports. There's kids who party every night, but there's also kids who never party, and you can basically do what you want. Most people are pretty academic and work hard, but not very many kids are obsessive about their grades. the dorms are really fun, everyone leaves their doors open, and at night usually everyone migrates into someones room. there's also a lot of dorm events, so you always have things to look foreword too.

I am a sophomore here on campus and I have found that there is no limit to the clubs/groups that you can get involved on on campus. I met most of my closest friends in my dorm freshman year along with in classes. Most students attend athletic events (mostly football--GO JOHNNIES). There are always guest speakers, CSBSJU brings in outside plays/musicians/musicals on campus, and there is always something to do on weekends (that doesn't involve drinking). For examples, CSBSJU is the only location that the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra preforms outside theiry home theater.

The most popular groups, organizations, clubs, and teams are the Joint Events Council, ballroom dancing, swing dancing, football, soccer, and dance team. I'm part of AKS, a service sorority dedicated to bettering the community in the surrounding towns. Students always leave their doors open. If a door is closed, it is assumed they are not there. Athletic events are very popular, especially football games. Guest speakers and especially theater are very well attended, also. Our dating scene is good. Bennie/Johnnie couples are supposedly extremely well-matched and we have a high percentage of marriage between Bennies and Johnnies. I met my closest friends through my floor, and First Year Residential Experience (a program set in place to help you meet the student body). If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday I am definitely studying. I don't usually stay up that late unless it's absolutely necessary, because I like to get enough rest for class. Some events that happen each year are The Stella Maris Ball, Halloween in the Halls (for children in the surrounding towns), Freezin' For a Reason (a clothing donation run), Homecoming, Bennie Day/ Johnnie Day, and when the Minnesota Ballet comes to perform for us. People don't party often here, as bad of a reputation as we get. I think it's mostly students from Saint Cloud State that party in the area. A recent survey that's posted around campus is that about 60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students on our campus have 0-4 drinks per week. Fraternities and sororities aren't typical "Greek" life here. They are very geared towards community service and providing events like dances and haunted houses for the colleges. Last weekend I went to Minneapolis to shop and visit my boyfriend. There are many things to do on a Saturday night, like ballroom dancing, swing dancing, go to the gym, movie nights, dances, game nights, theater productions, band concerts, sporting events, and other campus events. I don't like to leave campus very often, but when I do it's only to buy snacks, or visit my boyfriend.

On campus I'm involved with the Student Ambassador Program, the Benedictine Friends program, the International Friends program, the Arboretum at St. John's, a new group for students with special needs, and the Student Health Assistant program. I also work for the Institute for Women's Leadership on campus, which helps women develop their leadership skills and styles. Sporting events are huge and they are free to get into on your ID. Students in the first-year areas leave there doors open all the time so you get to know people well. People do go out and party and it is a wet campus, but it's really what you make of it. There are plenty of people who don't party on campus too, and because of all the groups on campus there is always stuff to do. Last weekend there was a free Tyrone Wells concert that people could go to. My friends and I tried to go but couldn't it was so popular! So, we just hung out in a friend's apartment and played cards and had a blast.

Some of the most popular activities and groups on campus are intramural sports, campus ministry, and the Joint Events Council. Between the College of Saint Benedict and St. John's University, we have any intramural sport imaginable...anywhere from ping-pong to competitive soccer. Since we are a set of Catholic universities, Campus Ministry holds a variety of events that allow for social justice issues to be brought to campus and students to be involved in the greater world community. The Joint Events Council brings in tons of events on the weekends. We have hip hop dance crews preform, dances put on, speakers, comedians, make-your-own-caramel-apples for halloween, and so many more! Though most Bennies date a Johnnie, it is by no means a requirement. On the weekends, there are plenty of alternatives to go do besides going out to drink. There is one sorority on St. Ben's campus and one fraternity at St. John's campus.

intermurals

There are A LOT of clubs and groups on campus. One of the biggest I can think of is the Joint Events Council. They are kid of like a student council from high school , only way better. They host events through out the week and on the weekends such as dances, bands, showings of movies, fundraisers, trips into Minneapolis for fine arts, and many many other events! If I am awake on a 2am on a Tuesday I am doing homework. I probably was too involved doing other things during the day and left my homework for last. Saturday night-go to a dance, go to a show at one of the Art centers, play games or watch a movie with friends, go for a walk around St. John's, look at the JEC sponsored events (Bingo, trips to minneapolis, ect.).

foot ball and basketball. All intramurals, Joint Events Council.

Johnnie football is a HUGE part of life here. Most people participate in sports, whether it be at the varsity, club, or intramural level. When it comes to open doors in the dorms it kind of depends on the time of year, everyone has their door open in the fall to get to know the people they're living with but after that, especially around finals, doors are closed. Johnnie Bennie marriage ratio is big, getting even bigger when it's someone in your First Year Seminar class. At SJU there is the Stella Marris Chapel, supposedly the first Bennie/Johnnie you go on the chapel walk with is the person you're going to marry. I met my closest friends (and my boyfriend) waiting in line for the Link at SJU on the first Friday we were here. We missed the bus and they offered my friend and I a ride back to CSB and we accepted (normally I wouldn't do something like this, but up here it is safe and we thought we could trust them). We ended up renting a movie and going back to SJU and watching it with them and we've been friends ever since. Probably the biggest event we have each year is the Tommie Johnnie football game. St Thomas is our rival school and our football teams are fairly equal, so the game is a pretty big deal, highly anticipated and always fun. The Joint Events Council always has something planned on either Friday or Saturday night (usually a dance) that doesn't involve alcohol. Both the CSB and SJU libraries have a big DVD collection that we can rent for free, so staying in and watching movies with friends is always an option.

A lot of people are involved as a Division 3 athletes however, there are more students who are involved in intramural sports on campus! We also have over 90 clubs on campus that include everything from kite flying club, to chess club, to magic the gathering, AKS sorority, along wit a club for every major! You can literally find anything you want to do on campus. If there isn't something you want on campus, you can most likely find a way to put one together! We also have student elected Senates on both campuses!

A lot of people are involved as a Division 3 athletes however, there are more students who are involved in intramural sports on campus! We also have over 90 clubs on campus that include everything from kite flying club, to chess club, to magic the gathering, AKS sorority, along wit a club for every major! You can literally find anything you want to do on campus. If there isn't something you want on campus, you can most likely find a way to put one together! We also have student elected Senates on both campuses!

Senate (CSB and SJU), Johnnie Football, Sustainability group, and other ahtletics. Our school is well-known for our success in Division three Football. Our head coach currently holds the record for most wins in NCAA.