“Living History: Tracing CMU Culture Through Student Organizations” Photo Gallery

CMU student organizations history

More than 100 visitors joined the Libraries Student Advisory Council at their end-of-year showcase on Tuesday, April 22. “Living History: Tracing CMU Culture Through Student Organizations” celebrated the history and impact of student organizations on campus, inviting the CMU community to engage with primary sources and other historic materials that tell the story of how these groups have helped shape the culture of the university.

Throughout the academic year, LSAC worked alongside the University Archives as Archives Ambassadors, building relationships with student organizations and spreading the word about the importance of preserving present-day CMU history by collecting key materials that document their activities. Community Collections Processing Archivist Crystal Johnson guided their efforts, sharing important aspects of an archivist’s role in the CMU community and adding new donations to the collection.

From gathering materials to curating displays to naming the event and spreading the word across campus, LSAC members took the lead on the end-of-year event. During the event, they interacted with attendees and even established future connections within the CMU campus community. Multiple visitors expressed interest in contributing their own student organization materials to the Archives, and some even discovered new organizations that celebrated their interests or heritage.

Applications for the 2025-2026 LSAC cohort will open in the fall. Follow the Libraries on Instagram and Bluesky to stay in the loop about LSAC and other opportunities for students to get involved.

An attendee examines items from the Kiltie Band, including a uniform from the 1970s.
An attendee examines items from the Kiltie Band, including a uniform from the 1970s.
The event featured several copies of the CMU literary arts journal “The Oakland Review,” which visitors were welcome to pick up and flip through.
The event featured several copies of the CMU literary arts journal 'The Oakland Review,' which visitors were welcome to pick up and flip through.

LSAC member Belen Torres, a graduate student in Heinz College and the current co-editor in chief of the Heinz Journal, collected materials from the organization to add to the Archives.
LSAC member Belen Torres, a graduate student in Heinz College and the current co-editor in chief of the Heinz Journal, collected materials from the organization to add to the Archives.
Nicholas Marshall, a senior studying philosophy and social and political history in Dietrich College, worked with the Catholic Newman Club and other religious organizations throughout the year to gather materials for the Archives.
Nicholas Marshall, a senior studying philosophy and social and political history in Dietrich College, worked with the Catholic Newman Club and other religious organizations throughout the year to gather materials for the Archives.

Dietrich sophomore Dani Moreno, who serves as a representative in the Undergraduate Student Senate, added materials like meeting minutes and ephemera to the Archives during her time with LSAC.
Dietrich sophomore Dani Moreno, who serves as a representative in the Undergraduate Student Senate, added materials like meeting minutes and ephemera to the Archives during her time with LSAC.
An attendee flips through a copy of The Phoenix, a conservative newspaper jointly published by students at CMU and the University of Pittsburgh from 1994–1998.
An attendee flips through a copy of The Phoenix, a conservative newspaper jointly published by students at CMU and the University of Pittsburgh from 1994–1998.

Current members of student organizations who stopped by the event were invited to help contribute to their group’s archival record by writing memories of their experiences on notecards.
Current members of student organizations who stopped by the event were invited to help contribute to their group’s archival record by writing memories of their experiences on notecards.
In addition to new items collected by LSAC over the year, the Archives also displayed community favorites like a cross-section of the Fence, a piece of Theta Xi’s 1984–1986 buggy “Rapier,” and copies of the Thistle student yearbook.
In addition to new items collected by LSAC over the year, the Archives also displayed community favorites like a cross-section of the Fence, a piece of Theta Xi’s 1984–1986 buggy “Rapier,” and copies of the Thistle student yearbook.

A group of students examines items from Scotch’n’Soda Theatre, including a record and program from “Pippin, Pippin,” the original version of the musical “Pippin” written by Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz is a 1968 graduate of the College of Fine Arts.
A group of students examines items from Scotch’n’Soda Theatre, including a record and program from “Pippin, Pippin,” the original version of the musical 'Pippin' written by Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz is a 1968 graduate of the College of Fine Arts.
LSAC members Amanda Barajas, a first-year Bachelor of Humanities and Arts student, and Vivian Nam, a first-year art major in the College of Fine Arts, explore decades of materials tracing the history of WRCT, CMU’s freeform radio station that was founded in 1949.
LSAC members Amanda Barajas, a first-year Bachelor of Humanities and Arts student, and Vivian Nam, a first-year art major in the College of Fine Arts, explore decades of materials tracing the history of WRCT, CMU’s freeform radio station that was founded in 1949.

Materials from both liberal and conservative political organizations were on display, offering insight into how CMU students have engaged with elections over the years.
Materials from both liberal and conservative political organizations were on display, offering insight into how CMU students have engaged with elections over the years.
LSAC members Amanda Barajas, a first-year Bachelor of Humanities and Arts student, and Vivian Nam, a first-year art major in the College of Fine Arts, explore decades of materials tracing the history of WRCT, CMU’s freeform radio station that was founded in 1949.
Many items from the Archives’ Student Publication Collection were available for attendees to interact with at the event, including the student newspaper The Tartan and the satire magazine readme.

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