STORY BY SYDNEY PRICE
off-campus organizations. PHOTO BY GOOI YING CHYI | PHOTO EDITOR
Last Thursday, Olmsted Center was a flurry of activity as informational flyers and email lists exchanged hands throughout a room lined with busy tables.
Drake students descended on Parents Hall to encourage membership in their organizations and find new ways to get involved on campus at this semester’s Activities Fair. First-year, transfer and returning students alike had the chance to talk to representatives from over 100 student groups during the event.
Each club had its own unique way of making their group stand out, ranging from colorful trifold posters and photo slideshows to team jerseys and sports equipment. But the real draw of the fair was talking to passionate students about their organizations.
“My strategy for recruiting is just getting people to talk to me,” said Alex Stumphauzer, captain and president of Drake Ultimate Club. “As soon as I can tell them about our club and what we do, I can usually get them to write an email address down. The club speaks for itself in that way.”
To secure a table at the fair, current campus organizations had to attend the mandatory President’s Summit, held earlier last week. The workshop ensured that all student groups knew important information, such as the proper procedures to host an event on campus and how to request funding.
The Student Activities Board, which had a booth in one of the conference rooms, also used the fair to hand out applications for committees and their Relays executive board.
“I think the fair went really well. It is always fun to talk with students and see what they are interested in doing at Drake,” said Erin Griffin, president of SAB.
For Praneeth Rajsingh, a junior transfer student, the occasion was a way to understand more about what Drake’s clubs have to offer and showcased student diversity.
“The number of varied clubs, societies, fraternities and sororities on campus is a testament to the diverse mix of students who call Drake home,” Rajsingh said.
The abundance of options available for students interested in joining activities and organizations both on and off-campus also came as a pleasant shock for Rajsingh.
“I doubt there is a more chaotic, colorful and eclectic mix of students gathered under one roof than during Activities Fair,” Rajsingh said. “For someone who is new to Drake, the throng of people at the fair was a surprise.”
