Student Involvement Fair showcases campus clubs

Loud music, large crowds of people and cookies converged in the Indiana Memorial Union parking lot from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday as student organizations manned booths to advertise their groups. \n“I was standing at Ballantine, and heard loud music and I thought I’d stop by to see what it was all about,” said junior Chad Ranney.\nThe IU Student Involvement Fair boasted 151 organizations whose candy covered tables and bright posters filled the parking lot. Groups such as the African Students Organization, the Friends of Middle Way House, Campus Crusade for Christ and a variety of comedy groups talked to students who stopped \nand browsed.\n“It just looked very inviting,” said sophomore Molly Fitzpatrick.\nGroups came not only to recruit new members, but to get the word out about their organization as well. Some groups aimed to draw as many as 30 new members, while others hoped that they would happy to gain even five new \nactive members. \n“We need students to get involved,” said Kasey Swanson,Indiana Public Interest Research Group’s campus organizer. “We’re working for social change.” \nFor Myeda Hussain, president of the Muslim Student Union, standing out in the 92 degree sun was necessary to let Muslims who may not be aware that they have somewhere to go if they need to. \nThis is the Student Involvement Fair’s first year. The fair took the place of WelcomeFest, a similar event in previous years.