Students

Choose your community, not just your classes

Student groups pitch their best attributes at the Arts Student Group Expo.

A student wearing a toque watching a performance on stage.
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
Arts students watched nine student groups present at the Arts Student Group Expo hoping to find a new group to join. Credit: J. Ogbonnaya
Arts students watched nine student groups present at the Arts Student Group Expo hoping to find a new group to join. Credit: J. Ogbonnaya
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
By

Erik Harju and Hila Graf

University isn’t just about the classes you take; it’s about the communities you choose to be a part of. Finding like-minded people can sometimes be hard, but many students are able to find their community by joining a student group.

Student groups gather around a certain interest or area of study and offer events, activities and support to their members throughout the academic year, providing volunteer, social and leadership opportunities. Joining a student group can lead to finding a core group of friends, developing your interests with like-minded peers or simply having fun. There are hundreds of student groups across UM. In the Faculty of Arts, more than 20 affiliated student groups offer plenty of options related to areas of study, languages and cultures or special interests. So, how do you choose which groups are the best fit for you?

In January 2026, the Faculty of Arts and the Arts Student Body Council (ASBC) hosted the second annual Arts Student Group Expo. Nine student groups shared their unique presentations, “pitching” their group to a crowd of over 110 Arts students. The night kicked off with a complimentary meal catered from VW Social Club. Shortly after, Expo hosts Chamika Alwis and Gurpahul Kaur from ASBC welcomed the first group to present.

A student wearing a toga and a laurel head wreath reads a poem from a book.
A group of 5 students, singing and dancing on stage.
Two students laughing while making animated arm movements and holding microphones.
A group of over 50 students pose for the camera on stage.
From left to right: Classics Student Collective, UM Pre-Law Society, Labour Studies Students Association and the full group of Expo participants. Credit: J. Ogbonnaya and E. Harju

Each presenting group had five minutes to deliver their creative and interactive presentation, to capture audience attention and share why students would benefit from joining them. The UM Pre-Law Society rocked the house with a cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, inviting the audience to sing along; the Classics Student Collective presented a poem in fluent Roman while dressed in a toga; and the UM Debate Club engaged the audience in, what else, a mock debate.

After the nine presentations, the audience voted on the “best overall presentation”, for which the Global Political Economy Students’ Association won the first prize and received $250 towards their club funding. GPESA shared a humourous video that paid homage to the Heated Rivalry phenomenon. The UM Spanish Club and UM Pre-Law Society won 2nd and 3rd place for their efforts, receiving $200 and $150 respectively for their clubs.

It was special to see the support groups had for one another.

Chamika Alwis

A group of 7 students standing together, one is holding up a winning certificate.
First place winners: Global Political Economy Students' Association. Credit: J. Ogbonnaya

“Arts Student Group Expo was created to bring Arts student groups together under one roof, and it did exactly that!” said Gurpahul Kaur, ASBC Vice-President. “Students had the opportunity not only to learn about different clubs and initiatives, but also to experience the passion and innovation each group brings to campus.” Chamika Alwis, ASBC Director of Arts Services, agreed: “It was special to see the support groups had for one another,” they said. “The cheers I heard in the room each time a club stepped on stage were heart warming. Even after the event had concluded, this energy radiated through the interactions and conversations group members and students were having.”  

Two students holding a microphone, standing at a podium on stage.
Hosts Chamika Alwis and Gurpahul Kaur of ASBC. Credit: J. Ogbonnaya

The Arts Student Group Expo is not the only opportunity to connect with student groups—groups accept members and offer events all year round. If you’re looking for a fun and welcoming community, the doors of Faculty of Arts student groups are always open.

Explore Faculty of Arts student groups

At UM, we encourage life-long curiosity while providing tools – inside and outside the classroom – to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Empowering learners is one of the strategic themes you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.

Faculty of Arts