This year my perspective of the Activities’ Fair changed completely. Instead of being the freshman, overwhelmed by club leaders trying to reel me in, I participated in the fishing myself. I was one of the group leaders, trying to find those enthusiastic people that are anxious to participate in my club. It was a lovely day outside when I rolled out of bed at 10:15 (early for a Friday with no classes!) to go drag my decorations, banners, and handouts to the side pathway in front of Founders. I arrived at 10:45 to empty lines of tables, still plain, bare, and naked. I claimed my half of a table in the shade with a big box of copies of arts and literary magazine, The Lighthouse, to hand out. As I set up, spreading out the tablecloth, pouring a bowl of M&Ms, and taping down signs, others began to trickle in with their signs and supplies.
Around 11:15 the fair began to buzz as students got out of classes, passing by the rows of recruiters on the way to lunch. Freshman wandered by, occasionally being drawn in, then convinced or even happy to give their name and number for information sheets.
Besides candy, several other attention-getting tactics seemed effective. The Ultimate Frisbee Team, well, played Frisbee, very near to the juggling, balancing, and tricks of the Circus Club, while both tried not to trip over the Outdoor Club’s mountain bikes and pup tent. Another new group, the Guilford Chapter of SCA (the Society of Creative Anachronisms), had friendly jousting, an inkbottle and quill to sign their list, and Beyond Joy in full costume, including kilt. The Scrabble and Chess Club sat complacently playing intense games. “We’re just playing chess,” said president Dan Freeman, as if the fair was just as good as any meeting.
Pleasant background rhythms of the drums from the African Drumming Group made the event a bit more upbeat. Even cries against corporate propaganda were thrown into the crowd by G.A.NE (formally known as the Culture Jammers). WQFS even gave freshmen an opportunity to own the famous 30th anniversary shirt, tossing them to anyone interested.
The Yachting Club (GuilCo’s role playing, sci-fi, anime group) was high-tech as usual with lovely anime movies playing on laptops, next to piles of gaming and comic books. Students reminisced through old yearbooks at The Quaker table. Vera Brown, the President of Amnesty International, even had chocolate chip cookies, seeming just out of the oven from lying in the warm sun, for you to nibble while she explained the upcoming School of the America’s protest.
While there was a lull in the crowd, I took the opportunity to visit the other tables. There are many other groups active at Guilford with something for everyone’s interests. Some other Guilford organizations include: Choir, Gospel Choir, Pagan Mysticism Group, GCROW, Quaker Concerns, International Relations Club, St. Mary’s House, SAFE, Revelers, El Club Hispano /Latino, African American Dancing Ensemble, Sister Sister and Brothers Doing Positive (divisions of African American Affairs), Gender Awareness, Forevergreen, Admissions Visitation Program, Multi-Cultural Resource Center, Community Senate, PRIDE, Bowling Club, Men’s and Women’s Rugby, plus several other groups that were not involved in the fair.
Some other highlights included watching everyone look through their free “Good Stuff Boxes (for Him and Her)” from Res. Life full of all sorts of “Fun” things. I even heard a rumor that there’s a “Naked Club” starting somewhere. Clothing- optional potlucks? Sounds entertaining… I suppose they’re not official yet.
Overall, it seemed like it was a successful day for all of the groups. Everyone had names on their sheets, a smaller pile of handouts, and three hours worth of sun. Thank goodness I got a table in the shade.