The University of Memphis Student Activities Council (SAC) hosted an Involvement Fair on Monday at the University Center Lawn to get more students involved on campus.
The fair allows students to get a view of everything on campus, while encouraging them to participate in clubs and campus activities, according to a student involved with SAC who wanted to remain anonymous.
With blue, pink, purple and white tents spaced out on the UC’s front lawn, the Student Involvement Fair allows incoming freshmen, commuters and other students to learn about the resources offered on campus.
International studies major Nikki Camarena, 20, said being a part of an organization helps students form a bond with the university.
“Student involvement is really important because a lot of our students don’t live on campus, so it’s important that they get engaged in at least one of the 200 organizations that we have,” Camarena said.
Camarena is part of the U of M’s Student Leadership and Involvement Program, which focuses on students learning about the different activities on and off campus. She said being a member of the organization makes her feel like she is creating positive change at the university.
“I would know about stuff, but now I feel like I’m actually making a difference and being more involved on campus,” Camarena said.
Although she is not a U of M student, 26-year-old Brackin Dawson is a member of “Global Friends,” an organization that supports international students on campus. As a transfer and commuter student while attending the University of Mississippi, she felt distant, but she said that changed when she became involved on campus with student organizations.
“Once I found a group to be involved in, I felt like that was home, and I was more a part of what was going on,” Dawson said.
Dawson’s organization helps international students feel more connected to their college while they are away from their home countries.
“We work with international students,” Dawson said. “We provide a place to feel at home here in the states while they’re gone.”
Nursing major Christina Maclin 20, who is part of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, said being involved helps students build relationships with others.
“You find a family within your school family,” Maclin said. “You have other people you can hang out with besides your friends.”
Maclin said becoming a member of a sorority has been very rewarding for her.
“It [Zeta Phi Beta] has helped me build more confidence when talking to people,” Maclin said. “It’s given me the leaderships skills that I needed to gain to further me on in my career and life. It’s truly been a blessing.”
Tigers' basketball coach, Penny Hardaway hypes up the crowd with a team introduction. Hardaway later engaged with students at the Involvement Fair.
Workers of the "I Love Memphis Blog" engage with students about everything happening in Memphis. Editor-In-Chief, Holly Whitfield gave out free t-shirts, stickers, and other freebies to students who followed the blog's social media.
University of Memphis cheerleaders leads the crowd of students in cheers and chants. The fight song and crowd chants were taught to new students.
Rebecca Johnson, a grad student and president of the School of Public Health informs students about what the program has to offer. Getting students to sign up for the newsletter was the main focus for the program.
Sorority and Fraternity members prepare to engage with potential new members at the Involvement fair. The formal recruitment process began last week.
