RSO Spotlight: HoneyBee Harmony fosters community on campus

With over 400 registered student organizations (RSOs) on campus, co-presidents Lakeera Ross and Sasha Wilson of RSO HoneyBee Harmony are striving to ensure that no girl ever feels left behind. 

“HoneyBee Harmony is a big sister, little sister mentor/mentee club,” Wilson said. “Our goal is to help transfer students and freshman girls transition into Western. Our mentors are called ‘bees’, and our little sisters are called the honeys… the bees nurture honey.”

Reflecting on their own struggles to feel included on campus as freshmen, Ross and Wilson were inspired to create an RSO that is focused on sisterhood. Ross and Wilson emphasized that unlike most sisterhood organizations, HoneyBee Harmony has a short list of requirements. 

“We require students to come to at least four events a semester… for our bees, we’re gonna have an interview and have them write a letter, just to show what they expect to give to the honeys,” Ross said. “For the honeys, we just require a letter to get what they expect from the bees, what they expect from the organization and what they’re interested in.” 

“Our initiation is $15, and that 15 goes towards you getting a shirt,” Wilson said. 

They host various events for its members, switching between informational events, such as the discussion on sexual harassment they hosted on Sept. 27, and sisterhood events that are more activity based and focused on bonding. All genders are welcome to informational events, and sisterhood events are specifically created for the female-identifying members. 

“Everybody is welcome,” Wilson said 

HoneyBee Harmony aims to meet 3-4 times a month at the Student Center, alternating between Wednesdays and Fridays. Their next upcoming event will be a Halloween movie night Oct. 31, followed by a business collaboration workshop in early November.  

For those interested, further information can be found on their Instagram page at @honeybee.wmu.