Clubs encourage campus community

Tables, booths and posters will line Bulldog Alley on Wednesday, Sept. 8, for clubs and local businesses from the community to promote opportunities, recruit new members and start off the year meeting new people. The Fall Community and Club Fair annually showcases the many clubs available on campus.

The fair is a traditional way to start the school year and to gear students up for involvement on campus, and this year fits into the Orientation theme of "Growing into Gonzaga."

"The club fair fits in well with the theme of beauty and orientation theme of ‘Growing into Gonzaga.' It is the first big opportunity for involvement, and it is an opportunity for students to put themselves out there and say, ‘I want to get involved,'" Director of Clubs and Organizations Pat McDonnell said.

The event is hosted and assisted by the Gonzaga Student Body Association (GSBA), but operated through clubs themselves. It allows clubs, local businesses and University departments to meet the students, and to promote themselves and the many purposes they serve.

"There are lots of clubs to get involved with, and clubs help these new freshmen to grow and also to meet new people. It's a way to show passion, and then meet people who share that passion. It's a great place to get involved on their college journey," McDonnell said.

There will be 100 or more booths, 95 of which are Gonzaga's clubs, according to McDonnell. Among these, a few new clubs will be showcasing themselves for the first time, including the Running Club, Men's Club Basketball and the International Justice Club.

According to men's club basketball head coach Jim Erwin-Svoboda, the team was created last year and will be striving to interest new members to join.

"The fair helps everyone grow into Gonzaga, not just the freshmen," Erwin-Svoboda said.

According to Club President Derrick Hein, the team's goal as a young club at the fair is to establish itself, and for it not to flop like many new clubs do.

"We will have our table, hang out, and those interested can talk to players who are committed to join," Erwin-Svoboda said.

Last year the team competed in Las Vegas for club nationals, making it to the Elite Eight. The team also played in many games, leagues and  tournaments with other teams and men's leagues.

"We are guys who work hard, form relationships and try to improve. We were a special team last year, we are just looking for team chemistry," Hein said. "The team was created by seniors who were big basketball players, and wanted to do something special and also to compete in legitimate games."

Another new addition for clubs this year is the club page. According to McDonnell, all students will be able to see different events, not just those in certain clubs. It is also easier to navigate, with club contact information more readily available. Accessible through www.gonzaga.edu/community, it is also able to connect with Facebook.

"The event request page is easier and the site is more simple. New clubs will register events there, and it is easy for everyone to see them, to reserve a room, have access to see the calendar and get more information," McDonnell said.

While most clubs at this time are simply gearing up for orientation, recruiting for tryouts or promoting first meetings, the first big event put on by any club this year is the Highlighter Dance, hosted by the Men's and Women's Lacrosse Clubs, on Sept. 3.