Appian Way was filled with music, sign-up sheets and free goodies during the Student Involvement Fair on Thursday, September 8.
The fair gives clubs a chance to recruit new members and show students what their club has to offer.
Many clubs give out free goodies such as phone chargers, sunglasses, pens or cups to spread the word about their organization.
Academic and Career Advisor Gloria Lodge said the Student Involvement Fair helps students develop independence, as well as new friendships and passions.
“They can figure out what they want to do after college by being part of a club,” she said.
Lodge said being a member of a club “absolutely enables networking.” She said the most important action a student can take is to ask questions, and being part of an organization can enable them to feel more comfortable in doing so.
“The sooner you ask, the sooner you get involved and then get involved with leadership. It shows growth,” Lodge said.
Lodge explained good leadership is “key to what prospective companies look for.” She also explained an example of showing that can be by starting your own club.
“I do think students need to know if they want a certain organization on campus, they can go through the student involvement process,” she said.
First-year students got to experience the Student Involvement Fair and get a good look at all the clubs and organizations KSC has to offer.
KSC first-year Cody Gadsby said he thought the Student Involvement Fair was pretty interesting. He explained he was on the lookout for a history club.
“I’m going for education and history,” he said. Gadsby said he figured the history club would help him meet new people.
The free goodies also drew in the attention of the first-year students. KSC First-year Julia Schultz was holding multiple items when approached. “I’m just signing my name away,” she joked.
She said her top picks were yoga club and “maybe something with nutrition.”
Schultz said she was also interested in volunteering for the Humane Society and potentially joining the Rugby team, although she admitted it might be intimidating.
She said her main reason for looking to expand her horizons was because she had heard about how beneficial it was. “[Graduates] talk about how you really need to be part of a club or otherwise you’ll just be in your room all day,” she said.
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Another first year Catherine Dishong said she was interested in a gaming club and potentially anime. She explained in high school that she was part of the art club. “We did lots of projects,” she said.
Dishong said she liked how friendly everyone was at the Student Involvement Fair.
Club members said the fair is a great way to introduce their organizations to new and returning students.
KSC senior Claire Lilley who represented the Chemistry Lyceum club said that the club is more about having fun than having to know a lot about chemistry.
“We do a lot of social events like reverse tie-dye and molecular gastromy,” she said.
However, Lilley did explain that being part of the club was a “good way to network in the science department.”
KSC senior and other member of the Chemistry Lyceum Christina Connor said tabling was about getting their name out there.
“Some people are afraid of the word ‘chemistry’. We want to break down that barrier. You don’t have to know chemistry to be involved,” she said.
Connor explained the club is still determining a time and place for meetings.
KSC senior Hannah Elliott who is a part of the Fair Trade club said it’s an advocacy/activism club.
“Our meetings are like think tanks,” she explained. The club’s table was littered with items, food and jewelry amongst them, all of which are fair trade items.
She said their club has impacted change on campus. Elliott continued, “Lloyd’s sells fair trade chocolate and Bean and Bagel sells local coffee.”
The student involvement fair was an opportunity to wake students up to the many extra-curricular activities KSC has to offer.
During the three hours it ran, student-run radio station WKNH played popular tunes as individuals munched on complementary candy and snacks.
Many groups decorated their tables, adding a burst of color throughout Appian Way.
Dorothy England can be contacted at dengland@kscequinox.com
MacKenzie Clarke can be contacted at mclarke@kscequinox.com
