It’s that time of year again. The first week of classes have passed, freshmen are getting over living with a roommate and AU’s Student Activities is gearing up for the annual Involvement Fair this Wednesday on the quad, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. From Bender Library to Kogod School of Business, sun-baked quadding takes an intermission for freshmen and upperclassmen alike looking to expand their horizons. Here’s how to make the most of AU’s Involvement Fair.
1. Go early
If you can, go to the fair between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m when organizations’ members are awake and ready to answer your questions. Going a bit later in the day, closer to the 2:30 p.m. closing time, the club members might run out of steam. Arriving early also gives you time to make a good first impression while chatting with the booth hosts.
2. Don’t budge, don’t push
Yes, everyone wants to get his or her name on the sign-up sheet, but that doesn’t mean you have to rudely push your way through the crowd. Be patient and wait your turn. Also, the people handing out the organizations’ sign-up sheets are watching.
3. It’s okay if you and your friends have separate interests.
You and your Welcome Week best friend may have many similarities, but that doesn’t mean you have to like everything they like. Don’t feel compelled to sign up for the rugby team just because your new best bud did. Don’t feel intimidated to join a club none of your friends are in, either. The Involvement Fair is there to get you out of your shell and explore something off the beaten path.
4. Broaden your horizons, but know your limits
Crew, model United Nations, AND a WVAU show? Meeting club organizers and getting your email address on a few sign-up sheets is the purpose of the Involvement Fair, but make sure you’re not overdoing it. No one wants to wake up the next morning with 50 welcome emails from clubs. It’s better to make a list of the kinds of things you’re interested in and then sign up for those. Afterward, you can check out other clubs that you might want to be involved in, but keep the extra sign-ups to a minimum.
5. Swag and chat strategy
It’s well-known that clubs want you to join their listservs and will use shiny buttons and stickers to achieve this goal. It is also well-known that students love anything free and will visit a table, avoid eye-contact and swipe whatever looks free without a “hello” or a friendly smile. This is rude. Organizations fundraise for these goodies and put a lot of time into ordering the right amount. The proper way to approach a table when you’re only interested in freebies is the swag and chat method:
-Make eye-contact while approaching booth, smile.
-Ask about the club or say you’ve never heard of it before, then ask a few questions.
-Ask if the [insert swag item] is “for everyone.”
-If so, cop a freebie, thank the person you talked to and wish him or her a good day.
Following the swag and chat shows that you are at least interested in knowing what the club is about without seeming rude.
