Whether they’re interested in zombie attacks or swing dancing, Penn State U. students can sign up today for a diverse selection of clubs at what is set to be the largest fall involvement fair ever.
The annual two-day fair will be held in both Alumni Hall and Heritage Hall for the first time to accommodate demand from attendees and more than 150 student groups, said Brian Petrosky, staff assistant for the Office of Student Activities.
Students will also be able to see firsthand what some of the groups do. On Tuesday afternoon, five groups will perform: the Swing Dancing Club, Songwriters Club, NOMMO, the Turkish Student Association and Shotokan Karate-do, Petrosky said.
Student groups will staff the fair’s booths, giving attending students the chance to learn about their organizations’ activities and goals.
Mark Donovan, overall chairman of the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC), said it’s important for new students to get involved.
“Penn State’s a big school and there are a lot of opportunities that it has to offer,” Donovan (senior-political science) said. “For new students, it’s a great way to have fun and make Penn State feel like home.”
Donovan said UPAC has two goals for the fair: to supply information about what the organization has to offer students and to increase membership.
Bobby Ryan, Off-Campus Student Union president, said his group’s two-day presence is part of an initiative to promote awareness of the dynamic between students and community members.
“In all of State College, two-thirds [of the population] is students. One-third is residents,” Ryan (senior-psychology) said.
“The relationship that exists here is a two-way street.”
While some groups will promote existing agendas, others will need fresh membership to begin new initiatives.
Chris Tutolo, Penn State Eco-Action public relations officer, said his group will support a campaign for placing a severance tax on natural gas.
Eco-Action will also back Penn State Beyond Coal and Windspira, a new campaign to deter students from buying bottled water, Tutolo (sophomore-journalism) said.
Tutolo said he feels a sense of kinship at Eco-Action meetings.
“I’ve found a niche through Eco-Action at school,” he said. “If you go there, you’ll feel like you’re a part of something.”