San José State University hosted its annual Speed Friending event and gave students a chance to meet new people in a different way on Wednesday.
Student Involvement hosted its fourth annual Speed Friending event during Weeks of Welcome.
Speed Friending encourages all students to connect with new people over shared interests with each round consisting of new topics with participants moving to tables depending on their interests, according to SJSU’s webpage.
Keri Toma Loehrer, director of International Students and Scholar Services, organized this event along with Student Involvement.
“The main thing is that people are having fun and are getting to meet new people, and finding connections,” Toma Loehrer said.
Weeks of Welcome aims to support new and returning students to campus as they transition into SJSU, according to the Student Involvement webpage.
Student Involvement at SJSU organizes spirit-filled programs, special events, live music and free food, according to the Student Involvement, Division of Student Affairs webpage.
Weeks of Welcome runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 23 featuring several clubs and organizations that SJSU has to offer, according to the same webpage.
People gathered underneath the tents at SJSU’s housing squad as they made their way to check-in, receiving their identifiable wristbands before settling in at one of the tables waiting for the rounds to begin.
Design studies junior, Abby Abuan, said she had the goal of making connections with new individuals.
“I really got to talk to people when we were talking about music,” Abuan said. “We’re talking about previous concerts we’ve been to and planning on going in the future.”
Activities included a large-scale Jenga, a large-scale Connect 4 and a game of cornhole.
It wasn’t just games that were at the event, but also Kona Ice along with other food items.
Freshman Kyle Ingalla lined up for the shaved ice at the Kona Ice food truck after attending the entire event.
“I was already on campus so why not?” Ingalla said. “It’s been good meeting new people. I would’ve just been at the Student Union waiting for another event I want to go to start.”
He said he was able to connect with multiple people by talking about one of his favorite common interests, sports.
Ingalla said he actually met someone who is interested in swimming.
“Turns out we both played in the same competitive swim team and talked about the coaches and teammates,” he said.
