By Zachary Bonner, Staff Writer
The Fall Activities Fair was held on Sept. 5 at 4:30 p.m. in the Weber Chapel following a rain-change due to impending weather.
Lining both wings of the chapel, tables representing student organizations from Greek Life to Club Sports who awaited curious students from all walks of SU’s campus life.
The Activities Fair is a chance for students at Susquehanna to find an organization that represents their interests.
“We put out a survey to incoming students, asking if they’re interested in a list of clubs or activities,” said Beth Winger, the Activities Coordi- nator on campus. “I compile that data and send it out to club presidents, in hopes that they’ll reach out to interested students.”
These surveys go out to students before the fair is held, so that they have an idea of what is available before coming to the fair, Winger says, “The Activities Fair is a more traditional way of reaching out and getting students engaged.”
Besides these more removed methods, there is one method that she has come up with and utilized the past few years that really bolsters the attendance and attentiveness of students that go to the fair.
“To encourage students to go to multiple tables, they’re given a passport,” Winger said. “[The clubs] will stamp the students’ passports, and if they get five stamps, they get free Rita’s Water Ice.”
This new tactic was implemented over time as the number of campus organizations has grown. Over the past decade, according to Winger, more new and different clubs have arrived on campus.
“The amount of clubs on campus has really grown,” she said. “When I started there was around 70 clubs, and now we have well over 100.”
On campus organizations exist to supplement the education across the board. Many students could find clubs that would allow them to get real world experiences in the courses of study they are pursuing at SU.
Early Education majors Kallie Honstine and Hannah Maykut, Class of 2021, were interested in the Best Buddies Club, an organization that works with children with special needs.
“So far, I really liked the Best Buddies Club. They team up with kids with special needs and work one-on-one with them,” Maykut said. “I’m really interested because I want to be certified in Special Education.”
“I found Best Buddies really interesting as well,” Honstine said. “Considering it goes well with being an Early Education major.”
Other campus organizations that were recruiting new members included Circle K, a service organization on campus, Disciple Makers, a new religion-oriented club, and ASL Club, an organization geared to teach students basic American Sign Language.
If you felt that there was not a club for your particular pas- sion, then there is another option for you to explore. You can organize a club for oneself through the Office of Leadership and Engagement.
To find out information on different clubs or organizations, contact Beth Winger, the Activities Coordinator in Degenstein Campus Center at bethwinger@ susqu.edu, to get in touch with extracurricular club leadership.
