Biology Club Tends to Tigers, Encourages Students to Join

by Kristy Hentchel

Surrounded by 182 exotic cats, the IU Biology Club toured the Exotic Feline Rescue Center (EFRC) in Center Point, Indiana. The students volunteered their time to help build a new cage for the cats and to tour the facility.

“I liked it a lot. I was very surprised at how large it [the EFRC] was and how many cats they had,” said sophomore Sarah Sitarski , the social chair of the club.

The EFRC encompasses many acres and just recently bought about an additional 75 in order to build more cages for the cats. The operation runs solely on charity and donations. Even the food fed to the cats is also donated from local farmers in the area.

“You don't get that many opportunities to stare at the eyes of a tiger,” said Junior Kyle Robertson, the president of the club. “We also have a lot of fun when we go out there.”

Besides volunteering the club has much more to offer to students of all majors. Many non-majors also join the club to participate in activities throughout the year, like an ice skating trip and a behind the scenes tour at the Indianapolis Zoo, because of their interest in biology.

“The Biology Club provides so much that students can take advantage of -- from career planning to academic success while in college to a social network for meeting other students with similar interests. I really think most undergrads don't find out about 90% of the opportunities available to them, and biology club tries to close that gap,” said Sarah Schaack, the club's advisor.

The informational meetings pull a lot of students to the club. Many feel lost with such a wave of information about classes, teachers, research opportunities and more, and the club helps them figure everything out.

“I joined the biology club because as a biology major I am interested in finding out all I can about biology at IU. The biology club will be useful to me in the future as I get closer to applying to med school,” said freshman biology club member Emma Hollingsworth.

The club is open to all majors; there are no dues, and anyone who likes biology is invited to join. The club allows the student to be as involved as they wish and is there as a tool for the students to use.

Robertson said, “If you have an interest in the club and want to join, go to our website at www.indiana.edu/~bioclub/index.html. We're always looking for new members. We serve the students and everything we do is geared towards them.”