NONTRA is a social group for SRU students who begin their collegiate journey later in life. The club and its practices aim to be as nontraditional as the students who attend it.
The group meets biweekly from 6-7:30 p.m. in Spotts room 117. There, they engage in a variety of social activities before dining together at Boozel.
NONTRA became an official SRU club in spring 2024.
“NONTRA stands for non-traditional…at the time it started as a joke,” Aodhan Ridenour, club president, said. “It sounds like a frat, right?”
Ridenour and his friend David Ogle started the club to combat loneliness for all students, not just adult learners.
“I came as a transfer student, which Slippery Rock has actually quite an excellent transfer program…that story aside, I did come here first in the middle of the winter. I knew almost zero people,” Ridenour said.
In addition to a comprehensive transfer program, SRU was nationally recognized in 2021 as one of the best universities for adult undergraduate learners.
Ridenour said the gap between traditional and non-traditional students can be more significant depending on how much time a learner has spent out of school. Some students may be removed from an educational setting for decades.
“Not getting the lingo is a big thing,” Ridenour, who took a five-year gap between college and high school, said. “Technology, surprisingly, has not been an issue.”
Additionally, he feels social opportunities are always needed in Slippery Rock.
“Not too many things to do outside of school, so that vibe of connectivity isn’t as wide as it might be in a city school,” he said. “When you’re older, you’re used to being able to go to bars and meet people…all of a sudden, those little outlets for social ability that you had been relying on in a different period of your life all disappeared.”
Ridenour said the club is important for members to develop a foundation and “social constellation network.”
“I think just the idea that it exists helps people a lot,” he said.
The first meeting took place on Sept. 30 and focused on “Speed Gaming” where participants rotated through different social games. The meeting was hosted by member Beth Pierce.
NONTRA prides itself on being member-focused when it comes to leading meetings.
“If you as a member have an idea, you become the one who organizes…but you have the support of our e-board,” Ridenour said. “Non-traditional people generally have explored some area of life and then came back. [They] might have a level of expertise they could share with the group.”
The club has several ideas for future meetings that involve collaboration with other groups. An upcoming meeting will revolve around technology and be co-hosted by Cyberspace Club. Another idea could involve a non-political debate between two groups on campus.
The group is always looking for new members, including e-board members for future semesters. Interested parties are encouraged to join the club on CORE.
