Academic and Cultural Clubs and Organizations

Fine Arts, Music and Theatre 

More than one-third of Ottawa University's students participate in art, music and theater activities and course. Each year the Ottawa University Theatre (OUT) group presents at least three major productions. Productions vary in scope and type, including traditional works, musicals, contemporary works, dinner theater, and experimental theater. The productions offer students a wide variety of opportunities to experience theater and become involved.

The Department of Art offers courses in studio drawing, painting, graphic arts, ceramics, and design, which culminate in exhibits and shows. The Department of Music offers both vocal and instrumental courses and performance groups. Auditions are held each fall for groups such as the University Concert Choir, Oratorio Choir, Adelante Singers, Symphonette, Jazz Ensemble, and University Ringers (a five-octave hand bell choir). Regular concerts are held throughout the academic year.

Wayne D. Angell Political Economy Club

A recently established club, the Political Economy organization was formed to stimulate discussion in matters relating to economics in everyday life. Named after long-time friend of Ottawa, Dr. Wayne Angell, whose relationship to Ottawa University includes roles as professor, administrator and trustee on Ottawa University's Board of Trustees. Dr. Angell boasts a distinguished career in national and world economic policy, serving for two terms as director of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City and chair of several Reserve Board committees, including work with the European G-10 in Switzerland.

Campus Media (Newspaper and Radio)

The Campus student newspaper and The Ottawan yearbook serve the Ottawa University community by keeping its members informed of news, events and activities. Both publications are student managed, and all students are invited to work on the publication staffs. Established in 1886, The Campus is the oldest student newspaper in Kansas. The campus yearbook, The Ottawan, and its predecessors have been published continuously since 1886 as well.

KTJO serves as the Ottawa University radio station. The station was created in 1942 by Dr. W. David Bemmels' physics class. The class put wires, transistors and electricity together to form the station - no modernized, ready-made equipment was used. Today the station operates with student managers, programmers, technicians, and DJs in updated modern facilities. All students are welcome to join the KTJO staff, as the station is on the air from the first day of classes to the end of finals week each semester.

National Scholastic Honor Societies

Each year national honor societies elect eligible Ottawa University students into their membership. The national honor societies with chapters at Ottawa University include Alpha Psi Omega, a national dramatics fraternity; Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society for education students; Phi Kappa Theta, a national history honor society; Pi Kappa Delta, a national forensic fraternity established in 1913;and  Sigma Alpha Honor Society, an academic honoe society established this honor society in 1941 to encourage high academic achievement by electing to membership only students who rank in the top 10 percent of the senior class or the top two percent of the junior class.

Biology Club

The Biology Club at Ottawa University was established to increase interest in the field of biology by discussing relevant topics and taking field trips to educate participants, all the while raising awareness in the community.

Student Government

The Student Senate represents the students' voice to the faculty and administration. Students elect their senators annually, and the Senate includes a student body president and vice president as well as 19 senators. The student body president primarily serves as the liaison among faculty, administrators and students. The student body vice president serves as the Student Senate president.  The Student Senate meets regularly to discuss and take action on issues facing Ottawa University students. Student senators work in a committee format to serve the interests of all Ottawa University students.