Article by Kaya Hankes-Power
Students filled the Student Union Ballroom to see the smörgåsbord of student organizations that San José State has to offer.
The Spring 2024 Student Organization Fair is a two-day event with nearly 60 clubs tabling each day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
The fair is included in the Weeks of Welcome event lineup, which is a seven-week event series that is hosted by Student Involvement.
SJSU’s Weeks of Welcome allows for student organizations to connect with students and create a presence on campus, according to the SJSU Student Involvement webpage.
The fair helps connect new and returning students with different student organizations that can be found on campus, according to the SJSU website.
Charlotte Warner, mechanical engineering junior and president of the Society of Women Engineers, said it has been a fulfilling experience for her to be a part of her organization.
Having a community of women has helped create a network of support since the engineering department consists of 85% men and 15% women in 2021, according to a report from SJSU ScholarWorks.
“I attribute one of the reasons why I’ve stayed in engineering, even when it gets really hard . . . (is) because of the networks that I’ve created and that I’ve built,” Warner said.
Five different types of clubs were represented at the fair, such as academic, Greek life, religion, special interest and club sports. Among these organizations are ways students can become involved in advocacy and activism.
Jaden Navarrete, environmental studies senior and director of the Environmental Resource Center, said the Environmental Advocacy Club focuses on sustainability events, sustainability advocacy and creates partnerships with the San José State University Garden and Food Pantry. The organization aims to take on projects that make the SJSU campus more green.
“There (are) parts of campus that we’re going to be landscaping with native plants,” Navarrete said. “We try and promote stuff like that and just try (to) be as hands-on as possible.”
Amy Huang, business administration transfer student and president of the Figure Skating Club, said having these events encourages students to know there is a supportive space.
“Whether it’s your first time on ice or you’re doing single jumps, it’s very intimidating to go (on the ice) alone,” Huang said. “We want to be there to support our fellow Spartans.”
Huang said students who sign up for the university’s Beginning Ice Skating class and want to continue their education are sometimes left wondering how they can nurture their love for figure skating.
Huang said because students are not able to retake the class, it can be hard to continue practicing figure skating. She said anyone interested in the sport should know they have a space in the Figure Skating Club to participate.
Psychology transfer Kristyl Bustos said she heard about the Weeks of Welcome event series through her sister who is an SJSU alumnus.
“I am interested in getting new clubs and meeting new people, just expanding my interests,” Bustos said.
Bustos said she signed up for two clubs, the Environmental Advocacy Club and Students Justice for Palestine, both of which align with her values and passions.
She says that this event helps to support other students, make friends and seek new job opportunities.
“I think being a student can be lonely, especially (for) people who just transferred after being online,” says Bustos.
Aerospace engineering junior Vasu Jain said he recently transferred to SJSU from Cal Poly Pomona and wants to expand his social network.
“I gained that no matter who the person is, everyone just wants to get to know each other and have a social life,” Jain said.
Jain said he was able to see what student organizations have to offer and explore opportunities. He took an interest in what the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers regarding his major and social events that the Jakara Movement Chapter hosts.
“You’re only in college once or maybe twice,” Amy Huang said. “Take advantage of these two or four years of your life. Just try everything even if that’s something you would never do.”
