WelcomeFest introduces campus groups to new students

Good weather was on order from the Union Board for the annual WelcomeFest, and its request was granted. Under sunny skies and warm temperatures, the 2004 WelcomeFest featured 100 booths from 92 different IU organizations in the Indiana Memorial Union circle drive.\nPlanning for this year's WelcomeFest started in April, when Eboni Gatlin, director of the Bridging the Gap Committee that coordinated the event, began calling organizations to ask if they wanted a spot in the activities.\nAs director, Gatlin made the decision to move the date of WelcomeFest to an earlier time this year. She said she felt the first week of school was not only the perfect time to get freshmen informed, but also for students to get an early start investing in their future. \nMembers of the organizations handed out free items such as food, soft drinks, T-shirts, bottle openers and stickers to attract students to their booths. Organizations offered informational pamphlets and books, and many booths included contact lists for further involvement.\nGatlin said WelcomeFest is geared toward helping organizations get coverage they might otherwise not receive.\n"Some organizations get exposure on their own, but this is a great way for some groups that don't get much exposure to draw members," Gatlin said.\nFreshman Emily Cooper heard about WelcomeFest from an orientation group and decided to see if there were any organizations that interested her.\n"(WelcomeFest) seemed like a good way to get all the information at once," Cooper said.\nFreshman Jennifer Medcalf was interested in the community service organizations represented at WelcomeFest.\n"Getting involved with organizations is a great way to give back to Bloomington for giving students such a great campus," Medcalf said.\nFreshman Blake Martindale, who spotted the booths on the way to class, explained the importance of getting involved outside the classroom.\n"It's important to explore different values and opinions in college," he said. \nGetting involved in organizations on campus is important for future students like junior Abby Patterson. She scoped the tables for Alpha Chi Sigma, the professional chemistry fraternity, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-medical and pre-dental honor society, hoping to get involved with organizations connected to her major.\n"I am pre-med, so I'm trying to get involved with organizations that will help my resume, help draw some attention. Sometimes it's harder on a large campus to be noticed individually," Patterson said.\nStudent Alumni Association member Shanyn Leake said getting involved with an organization helps students to find a niche.\n"Getting involved makes the campus smaller," Leake said. "It can be overwhelming coming to a large campus."\nWelcomeFest has been an annual production for 14 years. Program Adviser Sara Lane said the event helps students to know what organizations are available to them, which can sometimes be difficult on a large campus.\n"Being involved always looks good on your resume," Gatlin said. "It shows you can be a leader, be organized and committed. Being involved speaks volumes about who you are and helps you to grow as a person."\n-- Contact staff writer Ashley Lough at amlough@indiana.edu.