The biannual Community Involvement Fair was held March 3 at the HUB Ohio Room. The Fair was originally scheduled for early February but canceled on account of snow.
The fair has been taking place once each fall and spring semester for several years. Organizations and groups based both on the campus and in the community register for a table or two in the balloon-strewn Ohio Room to get publicity and attract student involvement.
Student attendance at this semester's event was not up to scratch. Around 80 students had signed in by halfway through the day.
"[There are] … not nearly as many as we would've liked to see," said Deb Stanley, a sign-in attendant. There was some speculation about the reason for the low numbers, ranging from midterms to upcoming spring break to poor publicity about the new date.
There was a wide range of agencies and organizations represented, offering students anything from community service opportunities to internships. Some were looking for volunteers for specific upcoming events, while others just wanted to add to their lists of contacts and get their names and information out there for students.
While agencies planning to attend are required to register roughly a month ahead of time, students attend for free. Agencies handed out stickers to place on a paper with the layout of the room; if students gathered a certain number of stickers by visiting enough tables, they could submit the paper with their name and e-mail to enter a drawing to win Flex dollars.
"I think [the Community Involvement Fair is] a great opportunity for both students and organizations," said Gina Lehman, of the Department of Human Services. "[It's] always a worthwhile event."
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