Into the Oval
Activities fair offers students opportunity to get involved on campus
Jen Rainey Collegio Reporter
The smell of hot dogs, the beat of drums and speakers blaring from a 1969 Ford Mustang filled the air as students crowded around campus organization booths Wednesday, Sept. 7. The activities fair took place in the Oval from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and showcased organizations such as Gorillas in Your Midst, religious organizations and Student Activities Council. There were even some lesser-known groups including the rock-climbing club.
Whitney Kraft, junior in commercial graphics, and Crystal Hole, junior in psychology, listen to Brittney Schmitz, representative - College of Education, at the student government booth during the Activities Fair on Sept. 7. | William Ravenstein/Collegio
The fair provided students like Mike Iori, senior in communication, the opportunity to learn about various organizations on campus. “We spent a lot of time talking to and educating people on our cause,” Iori said. Iori is a member of the PSU NORML (National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws) Chapter. The group educates students and the community on initiatives to reform marijuana laws. PSU NORML was one of approximately 37 student organizations with booths available to students. “We had an exceptional turnout.” Iori said, “A lot of people signed up for more information based on what they saw.” There were booths featuring information on international students, too. The Paraguayan Student Association and the Brazilian Student Association had booths at the event. Members of these organizations seek to involve students from these cultures and American students are welcome too. Members, such as Bruna Maulicino, senior in international studies and criminal justice, say that a lot of American students don’t know about their culture. “There are a lot of us here, so it’s important for American students to know about us,” Maulicino said. “This is one way to do that.” Hot dogs and hamburgers were provided to students free of charge, courtesy of the Office of Student Diversity. Deatrea Rose, director of the Office of Student Diversity, says this is the fourth year they have been offered and believes students enjoy the variety of toppings available. She says having their booth at the activities fair gives new students the opportunity to learn about their office. “We want to bring awareness to our office and any student is welcome,” said Rose. “We have a lounge area in our office with a couch and students can print papers for free.” Two new organizations at the fair this year were the Spark Theatrical Flash Mob and the Gorilla Street Kings. Lydia Rohner, junior in English education, says she has been to the fair every year but the Spark Theatrical Flash Mob was the first booth she worked. Rohner says she just started the club and students who signed up at the fair are the first members in the club. The flash mob will be doing freeze mobs, imagination mobs, and many other styles. The 1969 Ford Mustang on the corner of the Oval was hard to miss Wednesday. The Mustang was on display next to the Gorilla Street Kings club. The club was established Friday, Sept. 2, and is open to any student interested in cars, trucks and motorcycles. Andy Phillips, freshman in diesel and heavy equipment, and Stewart Bishop, junior in diesel and heavy equipment, provided students with information on the Gorilla Street Kings. The club is planning cruise nights, drag nights, road trips to Kansas City and Joplin drag strips, and many other activities. Phillips thinks the activities fair is beneficial to students. “I think the activities fair helps get students more social,” said Phillips. The fair was coordinated by the Campus Activities Center. There are between 100-150 active organizations registered on campus each year. For more information on ways to get involved on campus, contact the Campus Activities Center at 620-235-4795.
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