Lotus Magazine and Sanctus Artem pictured together, collaborating on their trip to the Museum at FIT.
IVY JAEP / COURTESY
Maddie Rosado, Staff Writer
In a city where every experience seems to come with a price tag, Manhattan University students are discovering that some of the best adventures are free. From wandering the grand halls of The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Sanctus Artem to exploring fashion history at the Museum at FIT with Lotus Magazine and even stepping onto the “Saturday Night Live” set with the MU Public Relations Student Society of America [PRSSA], student clubs and organizations are transforming New York City into their classroom. Through collaboration, determination and a bit of creativity, it’s students themselves who bring these trips to life.
Sanctus Artem, Latin for “pure arts,” is a student club dedicated to strengthening creativity and collaboration across the visual, performing and literary arts. By hosting workshops, events and cultural trips, the club gives students a space to express ideas and connect with peers who share their passion for the arts.
Driving these initiatives forward is Lucas Haas, president of Sanctus Artem and a senior environmental studies major, who has played a key role in coordinating the club’s recent visit to The Met.
“We collaborated with the International Students Association for our trip to The Met,” Haas said. “We wanted to showcase The Met to those international students who are probably here for the first time in the city.”
Through the efforts of teamwork and consideration of participants’ diverse interests, Sanctus Artem was able to turn a simple museum visit into an engaging and educational experience.
“We had no funding for that trip, not that we really needed it in the first place… Luckily, most museums tend to be free in the city,” Haas said. “Behind the scenes, my E-board and I meet every week to discuss our plans for events. We came up with a list for RSVPs, and once we got that list, we sent everything out.”
While reflecting on his experience, Haas shared that he was thrilled with the outcome of the trip. Not only did it inspire him and his own passion for art, but it also sparked an appreciation for the arts among the students who attended.
“It was pretty inspiring to see how interested people were in art history,” Haas said. “Because art history is something that I am so passionate about, I definitely enjoyed seeing other students also enjoy the experience as well.”
After experiencing such a successful trip, Haas wanted more for Sanctus Artem. He and the rest of his team began researching other affordable cultural opportunities around the city, looking for new ways to engage members and expand their artistic experiences.
“We just wanted to find another museum to go to,” Haas said. “I never heard of the FIT Museum until we were doing some research. The museum is completely free for entry, no tickets required.”
Recognizing an opportunity for a collaboration, Haas invited Lotus Magazine, allowing the fashion-focused club members to join and enjoy the trip alongside Sanctus Artem.
“We knew that Lotus is a very big fashion-centered club on campus, and so we wanted to bring them along on this trip because I’m sure there are a lot of people from there who would be interested in joining us,” Haas said.
For Ivy Jaep, editor-in-chief of Lotus Magazine and senior marketing and global business major, the opportunity marked a new milestone.
“As editor-in-chief, this is the first time that we’re even doing a field trip,” Jaep said.
While Lotus Magazine has been reaching new heights as a club empowered by beauty, acceptance and advocacy, their dedication to hosting events and publishing issues has always relied on self-funding. For this reason, taking a club trip was something they had never imagined doing.
“We are self-funded… Sometimes it can be stressful, just because there is nothing coming in to help us other than what we put effort into,” Jaep said.
The idea of a collaboration with another club sparked possibility and excitement. Jaep and her team began considering how a field trip could fit into their plans, imagining a way to give members a unique experience without adding any cost.
“Lucas Haas, who is the president of Sanctus Artem, came to me about this collaboration, and I didn’t know until I looked it up that the FIT Museum is actually free,” Jaep said.
A single trip quickly sparked bigger ideas, opening the door to future outings designed to enhance the club’s experiences and spark passion within current members.
“I’m hoping that we could go and do other trips like this, maybe even go to museums that aren’t free,” Jaep said. “I’d love to think of different things that can spark inspiration with our writers and our shoot directors.”
While reflecting on the club’s commitment to growth and creativity, Jaep emphasized the team’s dedication to pushing boundaries and providing meaningful opportunities for students.
“We’re always trying to do something more than we did the previous year,” Jaep said.
This spirit of student initiative and the pursuit of experiential learning extends beyond the arts, as other campus organizations such as PRSSA continue to find unique ways to provide students with hands-on opportunities in professional settings.
As one of the first clubs to offer affordable trips, PRSSA provided its members with opportunities that built on alumni connections in the arts and entertainment industries. Leading these efforts was Mia Porritt, president of PRSSA and a senior communication major. Porritt spoke to The Quadrangle about a number of the free excursions offered through PRSSA.
“We actually did a tour of NBC, and got to go see the “Saturday Night Live” set and some of their offices, which were really cool,” Porritt said. “We also went to Edelman PR, which was amazing because of how big their PR firm is… We actually were invited to [go] along with other schools like NYU and Columbia, so that is another way we are able to take advantage of these trips.”
When it comes to the funding aspect behind each trip, PRSSA ran every excursion on a carefully managed budget, maximizing opportunities while still offering them at no cost to members.
“We have a budget of $200 a year, but all of our trips are free, and it’s purely based on alumni connections,” Porritt said.
For PRSSA, these trips are about more than just visiting iconic companies – they are carefully crafted opportunities for students to connect with real-world experiences. By utilizing alumni networks and the initiative of current members, the club creates accessible and professional learning experiences that inspire students to envision their own career paths.
“The biggest takeaway is really making sure that students realize that their dreams are achievable,” Porritt said. “It’s really good to see someone who is maybe in your class, or someone that you just saw in a leadership position on campus actually working in such esteemed roles.”