Student organizations invite new members to join at Club Fair with interactive activities

Malar+Bala+%2810%29+stands+by+the+Women+in+STEM+%28WiSTEM%29+poster+board+while+Erica+Cai+%2810%29+signs+up.+Students+who+still+want+to+sign+up+for+a+club+can+contact+club+officials+and+ask+to+be+put+on+the+mailing+list.

Sriya Batchu

Malar Bala (10) stands by the Women in STEM (WiSTEM) poster board while Erica Cai (10) signs up. Students who still want to sign up for a club can contact club officials and ask to be put on the mailing list.

by Sriya Batchu, Reporter

This year’s annual Club Fair invited upper school students and faculty to explore and join a variety of student organizations in the RPAC lobby and the donor plaza during lunch today.

Club Fair usually takes place in early September and is a place for students to share their passions with the rest of the student body. This year, Eric Kallbrier, the director of student organizations, chose to host Club Fair in the RPAC lobby instead of  the quad, like last year, or in front of Nichols like previous years. In addition, the large display screen in the RPAC was used to present pictures of previous club events and activities to promote each club.

We’ve been changing the location for the past two years to keep it fresh and exciting but also to make sure that everybody gets a place that works for them,” Kallbrier said.

Tables were lined along the walls of the RPAC lobby and around the Donors Plaza. Club officers and advocates stood in front of handmade boards, trying to get new members to join their clubs while showcasing their achievements or attracting students with small goodies. 

“Club fair is a lot livelier than I imagined. Everyone is trying to get me to join their club and honestly it’s a little overwhelming. On the other hand it’s really diverse and interesting and I’m excited to discover what’s out there,” freshman Ashley Ma said.

New clubs such as Voices of Youth Activism, founded by junior Natasha Yen, used Club Fair as a way to spread awareness of their club and to attract like-minded members. 

“The best part is that anyone can make a club and spread their interests around campus. There wasn’t a creative writing club when I came, so I think the opportunity to make one myself and to meet other people who shared my interests is really cool,” said Eva Chang (12), the founder of The Writer’s Advocate Club.

Over the next couple weeks, most clubs will start notifying their members about upcoming meetings and activities via email. Students who still want to sign up for a club can contact club officials and ask to be put on the mailing list.

“I like that clubs allow students to pursue their own particular passions and to develop and grow them over the next year. There aren’t very many limits to what you can pursue in a club as long as you’re willing to putting in the hours and effort. The variety of the activities students are involved in is what I find the most interesting,” Christopher Hurshman, the faculty advisor for the Unplugged club, said.