The annual Club Fair had two notable changes this year: first, the Ministry Fair, which has in recent years been a separate event, was combined with the Club Fair; and second, ice cream was not served to students as it has been in the past. The fair—which was held on Wednesday, Sept. 11—is a highly anticipated event where students gather on the lawn in front of the Campus Center to visit a variety of booths, each showcasing the different on-campus student organizations and clubs. This allows them to learn more about each club and decide which ones they want to participate in during the school year.
Traditionally, the fair involves participants grabbing a bowl of ice cream and piling on different toppings—located at different booths—as they interact with the various clubs. However, this year, that was not the case. The event strayed away from tradition as organizations were given a new theme on which to base their tasty treats: Show off your cultural specialties. Several groups worked hard to produce homemade food. For instance, the Andrews University Latino Association passed out cups filled with arroz con leche, a traditional sweetened dessert. Other clubs enticed interested onlookers with packaged snacks, cotton candy, and beverages such as iced tea. This gave students a literal taste of what it might be like to join a particular group.
With the addition of the Ministry Fair, there were more participating organizations, which generated a large turnout of students with very diverse interests. Some interests, highlighted by the variety of clubs that participated this year, included: volunteering, health and fitness, further education, culture, and general hobbies. There were also many new clubs added this year, which gave students even greater opportunities to find communities that align with their goals and personal interests. The fair fosters student engagement when people actively seek new members to join their clubs; it also benefits the overall community when students join ministry groups, which promote spiritual growth, outreach, and community involvement.
Students' reaction to the fair was extremely positive. Sebastian Dominguez (freshman, graphic design and marketing) said he “really liked the food,” in reference to the change from ice cream to cultural dishes. Other features that appeared to be popular were the varieties of merchandise, such as sweatshirts, offered by various groups for signing up; prizes that could be won by entering drawings; and small items, like stuffed animals, being given away just for speaking with a club officer.
The Office of Student Involvement, Leadership, and Activities (SILA) organized the Club Fair as part of Andrews University’s Spirit Week, which they also coordinated. Each booth is run by volunteers—organizational officers and members, staff and faculty, and the student ministry leaders—who collaborated with SILA to ensure that their group was represented to the student body as part of this year’s fair. Overall, the Club Fair showcased the vibrant array of student organizations present on campus, highlighting their diverse cultures, experiences, and interests.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.