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Exploring Student Organizations and the SLU Experience

In this episode of “1818: A Saint Louis University Alumni Podcast,” co-hosts Tony Minor (A&S ‘03) and Meg Connolly (A&S ‘90, GRAD A&S ‘92) delve into how student organizations help shape the college experience for SLU students.

A blue graphic that has three headshot photos and reads 1818 A Saint Louis University Alumni Podcast Episode 6 The History of Student Organizations at SLU. Amy Fehlig Kendall, Aric W. Hamilton and Jeff Jarrett.

Listen to 1818: A Saint Louis University Alumni Podcast to learn more about how student organizations help shape the college experience for SLU students.

About Episode Six

A student pushes a large bin filled with boxes across the street on campus.
Oriflamme members help new students move into their dorms on campus.

Connolly and Amy Fehlig Kendall (CSB ‘91, GRAD CSB ‘98) open the episode, diving into the history and impact of Oriflamme, SLU’s student leaders who help welcome new Billikens to campus and help them transition to college life. Kendall reflects on what Oriflamme meant to her when she arrived at SLU as a new student, why she was inspired to become an Oriflamme member and what her own sons thought of the tradition when they moved to campus. 

“There's just something intuitive about Oriflamme leaders,” Kendall said. “I just felt this warmth and support and ‘we’ve got you’ mentality. And so that certainly gave me this great sense of confidence.”

She also shares the many benefits she gained from being involved in Oriflamme and other student organizations during her undergraduate experience, including opportunities that built her confidence and gave her lifelong friendships.

Inside the Roundtable Discussion

Connolly and Minor then lead a dynamic roundtable with alumni guests Jeff Jarrett (CSB '03) and Aric Hamilton (A&S ’23, GRAD ED ’25). The group swaps often hilarious and heartfelt memories from their campus days, including late-night deadlines at the University News, driving the president’s dog around campus in a golf cart, collecting hundreds of free promo CDs for KSLU music reviews, and handling highly public coffee spills in suit-and-tie attire. 

“Coming to campus and being involved and getting immersed into the new student experience, I really found myself driven to doing something more beyond myself,” Hamilton said. “Student government piqued my interest, and I threw my hat out there in the ring and got involved freshman year and did student government all four years.”

Coming to campus and being involved and getting immersed into the new student experience, I really found myself driven to doing something more beyond myself."   

Aric Hamilton (A&S ’23, GRAD ED ’25)

They also explore how being involved in student organizations influenced their career paths. Hamilton reflects on how his campus experiences, including serving as SLU Student Government Association (SGA) president, helped him discover a passion for higher education administration and the student experience. Jarrett shares how working at KSLU influenced his decision to go into music management and event production.

“Putting on shows and getting to kind of bring bands around campus — there were always stories,” Jarrett said. “The interaction of musicians I admired was like, wow, I have this at my fingertips. So that really excited me.”

All of this episode’s alumni guests agreed on one thing: being involved in student organizations gave them a greater sense of community as students, and their friendships formed during those times remain just as strong today.

Alumni Perks

At the conclusion of the episode, Minor shares a perk that allows all SLU graduates to reconnect with the Billiken community: signature celebrations held throughout the year just for alumni, their family and guests. In St. Louis, those events include Christmas on the Quad and an annual Easter Egg Hunt for alumni and friends.

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