Tuesday was spring semester’s student involvement fair, and an array of Vandal student organizations gathered to gain support and members for their organization.
Denise Carl, coordinator of student engagement, led the event. Each group that participated had a booth in the University of Idaho Commons Clearwater Room. There was also a variety show, where each group presented their group or cause on the main stage in the TLC cafeteria.
Carl said UI has 200 student organizations. Of the 200, she said 28 participated in the fair Tuesday.
The Student Involvement Fair had two main purposes — one was to give student organizations that participated in the fair an opportunity to gain support and members, Carl said.
“But more importantly, to give students at the UI an opportunity to engage with student organizations, because student involvement is an important part of being engaged on campus,” she said.
The event featured a range of groups, from a newly-formed Special Olympics student organization to a student organization called Oela that brings Southern Idaho high school students to visit the UI campus.
Carl said student groups all have different purposes. She said some groups are for fun and meeting new people while other groups are more academically motivated. She said being involved in groups that coincide with students’ majors is a helpful way for students to become involved in their departments.
For instance, the Student Association of Fire Ecology has a lot of fire management, fire ecology and forest resource major members.
UI senior Ali Nuckles, joined the Vandals Volunteer Club her sophomore year of college. She said being involved in a student organization such as the Vandals Volunteer Club has enhanced her college career and allowed her to meet other individuals at UI.
Carl recommended students get involved in student organizations. She said it allows for students to become part of micro-communities and to meet new individuals with similar interests.
John Fish can be reached at [email protected]