New online tool helps promote student organizations

<p>The Office of Student Life recently started Benny Link, a new tool for student organizations to operate. Benny Link allows groups to put brief descriptions and list events they are having. <em>PHOTO COURTESY OF BSU.COLLEGIATELINK.NET</em></p>

The Office of Student Life recently started Benny Link, a new tool for student organizations to operate. Benny Link allows groups to put brief descriptions and list events they are having. PHOTO COURTESY OF BSU.COLLEGIATELINK.NET

Upcoming Events

Benny Link helps student organizations inform people about their upcoming events. Check out the upcoming activities featured on Benny Link's front page:


Turkey Run Hiking Trip

What: Hang out all day at Turkey Run State Park in Marshall, Ind. 

When: September 7, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Organization: Christian Student Foundation


Gymnastic's Club Call Out Meeting

What: Get involved with a club that's open to any student.

When: September 8, 8 - 9 p.m.

Where: Bracken Library basement


Rhythms Dance Troupe Fall Auditions

What: Try out for one of Ball State's dance teams. Just prepare to learn a modern, lyrical and hip, jazz dance combination. 

When: September 9, 9 - 10 p.m

Where: Student Recreation and Wellness Center, room 200B


Benny Link, which was implemented by Ball State in April, contains every registered student organization. Students can use the program to view brief descriptions of organizations and access the date and times of their events.

Benny Link is Ball State’s version of a product designed by Campus Labs called CollegiateLink. Students can access Benny Link via an app called Corq or by visiting bsu.collegiatelink.net.

Benny Link contributed to the success of the Black Student Association’s first event of the semester, said Robert Miles, a senior natural resources and environmental management major and vice president of the organization. 

Students told Miles that they discovered the event, a bowling night at Cardinal Lanes, by checking Instagram and downloading Benny Link through the Corq app.

It also helped BSA track how many people attended the event. 

“I love Benny Link,” Miles said. “We finalized the updates such as the bowling event time and date and by the end of the event period, we admitted 261 people into Cardinal Lanes.”

Before Benny Link, Miles said he and his organization usually promoted upcoming events through Instagram or by word of mouth.

Rebecca Simpson, a junior psychology major and president of the Ball State Quidditch League, is still figuring out how to integrate Benny Link into her organization’s recruiting strategy, but said she’s looking forward to promoting her club further by using the app.

Quidditch is “a real-life adaption” of the magical sport from the Harry Potter novels and movies.

“People are unaware of the sport, but we have our Facebook page and posted different stuff on there,” Simpson said. “But if you didn’t follow us, [there] probably wasn’t a very good chance to know about Quidditch."

Lauren Berger, assistant director of the Office of Student Life, said she’s happy with the reactions she’s seen towards Benny Link so far.

Benny Link can also be used to create a student organization. Previously, students had to personally go to the Office of Student Life. Now, they can start the process through a page on Benny Link. Applications will still be processed through student government representatives. 

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