San Jose State students gathered in the Campus Village Housing Quad for a “Speed Friending” event on Wednesday.
The Student Involvement Office and International Students College Services
invited students to come meet new people, have dinner and play games.
“Making friends is good for your sanity,” engineering technology sophomore Michael Rodriguez said.
Interim director of SJSU International House Matthew McCormick said the event intends to help students feel more safe and connected to one another.
“Finding your people is something really important to everybody because they're a support system,” McCormick said. “They're the people there for our best moments and for our worst moments.”
McCormick attempted to lighten the mood for nervous students by cracking jokes and calling passersby over to join the event.
“Talking to people makes you feel more comfortable in this new experience,” said data science freshman Matthew Wong.
SJSU has numerous clubs and organizations looking for new members.
Rodriguez joined Baja SAE last year and was able to meet a friend through the club and become roommates this semester.
Baja SAE is a student-run engineering club that designs and tests cars for off-roading through planning that involves computer simulation.
McCormick said that not everyone enjoys putting themselves out there, leading him to facilitate events like “Speed Friending” for students.
“I want to lend that voice to other departments who need that little bit of energy,” McCormick said.
The first hour of the event, students registered and then played an icebreaker game at the tables while others played Connect Four, Jenga and cornhole at the nearby lawn.
“Students who want to be around and maybe connect more one on one and less of a group environment are able to find that space,” McCormick said.
The icebreaker game consisted of McCormick asking students what their favorite music genres and sports were and assigning different answers to those questions to tables.
Students would then go to the table that resonates with their answer and meet like-minded people.
Most students were found at the tables getting to know each other and discuss similar interests.
Advertising sophomore Nathaniel DeAnda said he finds it easy to make friends, but some students struggle.
“When you’re new to campus, you’re not around your family or your old friends anymore,” Rodriguez said. “It can be a little intimidating.”
