Student clubs are out recruiting
CHICO >> In what has traditionally been a one day event, the Chico State Office of Student Life and Leadership opted to split this year’s “clubtacular” student involvement fair into a two day event to respect health, wellness, safety and sanitation precautions related to COVID-19.
On Wednesday, clubs relating to academics, careers, honor societies, service and leadership, and special interest and hobby sat at tables outside of the Bell Memorial Union, the Science Building, Glenn and Trinity halls and Meriam Library. On Thursday, clubs relating to activism and social justice, cultural and religious, environmental and sustainability, fraternities and sororities and recreational sports will take their turn.
The tables were not laid out in any specific order, which Program Coordinator for Student Organizations and Leadership Education and coordinator of the event Kendra Wright said was purposefully done.
“I want the students to stumble upon clubs and be like, ‘oh I’ve never heard of that kind of thing,’” Wright said.
The student organizations students will see Wednesday and Thursday are currently going through the recognition process, which includes a compliance training and making sure the organizations know about all of executive orders like anti-discrimination, alcohol awareness and recruitment processes.
Wright said that in 2019, prior to the pandemic, Chico State had over 200 clubs and dropped to 189 in 2020. She said the school has 96 recognized student organizations but anticipates more than 150 student organizations will be active in the fall semester.
“The intent is for these organizations to get back in the swing of things now that we’re in person,” Wright said. “I wanted to create a physical safe way. The intent is to capture the student population as they’re walking to and from their classes to encourage them to get involved with their student organizations.”
Associated Students First-Year Leadership Opportunity Program Coordinator Lauren Goldberg said it’s her first year recruiting at a table but attended the clubtacular event in 2019. Goldberg said she felt there were more people in attendance in 2019, and more were coming by.
Elenie Perez said being a part of the Child Development Student Association club has helped her become more social and helped her narrow down her career field.
“It was really hard because I grew up and was raised (in Los Angeles) and was always with my family,” Elenie Perez said. “Now here me being here by myself it was scary at first but now I’m getting out there getting to know people. It feels nice and I love it so much.”
Perez said she knew she wanted to work with kids but even upon arriving at Chico State she was often quiet and would observe others.
Perez said being a part of a club has helped her feel welcome in the Chico community.
Wright noted several new clubs that were present at the event including the disabled student union, the arm wrestling club and the pinky swear foundation club, which focuses on raising money for childhood cancer and support of their families.
Other clubs present included the biology honors society Omicron Theta Epsilon, the Child Development Student Association, Community Action Volunteers in Education and the Associated Students FirstYear Leadership Opportunity amongst others.
For more information about Student Life and Leadership at Chico State visit its office in the Bell Memorial Union room 220, by calling 898-5396 or online at https://www.csuchico. edu/sll/.