The Office of Student Activities hosted the annual Involvement Fair on Sept. 9 in hopes of helping the student body to get more engaged in campus life.
Originally scheduled for Sept. 2, the fair had to be postponed due to the threat of Hurricane Hermine. However, that did not affect the success of the event in any way.
“The goal of putting on the involvement fair is to give clubs, organizations, and Greeks an opportunity to showcase their organization and to promote themselves to gain new membership. Also to show students what organizations we have available on campus,” said Edson O’Neale, director of student activities.
Students enjoyed colorful displays from most of the clubs and organizations on campus. The heads of these organizations put a lot of work into making creative displays that would attract the attention of students. Some of these impressive displays included the physics club making giant bubbles, the art club distributing colorful armbands, and the Caribbean student association playing some upbeat music. The students were also entertained when a few sororities and fraternities put on an impromptu step show during the event.
This year, the fair was located along the walkway between Kirk Hall and the School of Business, a change from its usual location under the loggias of Student Activities Building and Student Community Center. This new position gave the event maximum visibility, as it was directly on the path that most students took to their classes.
“We [Office of Student Activities] have always tried to have the involvement fair at that location, but because of rain or inclement weather, we have always had it under the loggias. I feel that is a prime location, and you can catch all students walking to and from class,” said O’Neale.
However, the student body had mixed reactions to this change. Some loved the exposure to more traffic, but other students disliked the fact that it was out in the mid-afternoon sun.
Richard Ocampo, a junior theater arts major, said, “It’s better. There is more traffic, so more exposure.”
Cynnique Johnson, a sophomore biology major, said, “It’s more people, but it is still too hot to stand out here for two hours. I would have preferred it in the shade like last year.”
The student body responded very positively to this event; most found it very helpful. Students not only got to see the wide variety of clubs and organizations that the University has to offer, but also speak to the members and heads of each club personally to decide if it was a good fit. The event was placed at the perfect time considering the influx of new students looking to get involved.
Andrea Alvarez, a freshman biology major, showed her appreciation by saying, “This kind of event makes it easier for students, especially freshmen like me, to get involved.”
The Office of Student Activities considers this year’s involvement to be a success.
When asked, O’Neale responded, “Absolutely! In my eyes this has been the best attended Involvement Fair my office has put on. Students went to all the different tables, and the organizations supported each other by going to each other’s table. It was great, and it showcased our core value of community.”
