While attending Iowa State University, I took a strong initiative to become an active member of Iowa State’s community. My involvement in the Mountaineering and Climbing Club granted me the ability to generate an impact on the community and enriched my own personal growth. Being an active member helped to strengthen my ability to identify areas that could enhance the lives of Iowa State Students, including taking on a more leadership role.

Over The Edge - Boys and Girls Club of Story County

     Along with providing opportunity to Iowa State Students, the Mountaineering and Climbing Club also participates in community outreach events within the city of Ames, IA. In fall of 2018, We had the wonderful opportunity to support an event called Over the Edge which was organized by The Boys and Girls Club of Story County. This local event was to raise awareness and funds for children in Story County. The Boys and Girls Club uses these funds to put on after school activities, as well as fun and safe programs to enrich the children of the community. We aided the Over the Edge event by providing volunteers to help maintain a safe and fun environment. We helped safely secure each person who rappelled down the building and taught them the correct commands, including how to use the gear.  Throughout volunteering at Over the Edge, we were fortunate to meet other members of the community who put forth an effort to enrich the lives of others. It was a priceless experience to be a part of during my time at Iowa State. 

Iowa State Trademark Policies

     In August 2018, Iowa State University released a surprise change to their official trademark policies. The new trademark policies restrict all student organizations from using any trademarked Iowa State University names, logos, fonts, mascots, and even the name "ISU" itself. As the president of a student organization that contains a competitive team competing on the collegiate circuit, I feel as though this policy has impacted us more than the university initially intended. Our club overall had to change our name and will have to change all of our social media accounts as well as our website because we have always been called the Iowa State University Mountaineering and Climbing Club. Our Student Organization website, as well as all of our social media, is accessed at ISUMCC. All of our merchandise (our t-shirts, our stickers, our club flag) all say ISUMCC on them in some way shape or form and we are no longer allowed to call ourselves that due to the new trademark policies. 

     We formed a group of student organizations against the university's new policies and supported a proposal to the university put forth by the student government. The university released a public response to our proposal which can be found here: http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/university-releases-statement-on-trademark-policy-students-react-negatively/article_79edf2b8-f2ba-11e8-9cbe-77f768c0a090.html . The new rules are an overreaction to an issue and lawsuit that the university caused when they redacted their previously approval of a design. They also state: "Under the new Guidelines every student organization within its specific tier (Registered, Affiliate, or Sponsored) have identical use of the Trademarks" which is in direct contradiction to the language available on the trademark website. "As a recognized student organization, you are tiered by the student activities center as either a Sponsored, Affiliated, or Registered/Campus Organization. The availability of university trademarks is based on your tier level". (https://www.trademark.iastate.edu/info/orgs/tiers) 

    We will continue to fight for the rights we believe we are due as students of Iowa State University, and we will support a student government that fights for the rights the students are due.