Because of inclement weather, the celebration — which offers students a variety of ways to connect with campus organizations at the beginning of each semester — was held in the Union Ballroom on Wednesday. Other than the relocation, the event continued as planned.
Trisha Jensen, director of the Office of Orientation and Leadership Development, said Plazafest encourages U administration, clubs and campus resources to come together to show students what they have to offer.
The fair also puts all the information on campus organizations in one place so that students don’t have to scurry from office to office.
Organizers said more than 160 student organizations participated in this Plazafest.
The event exhibited organizations of all kinds, tailored to everyone from the social advocate to the Harry Potter fanatic. Some newly created groups, such as “Friends of Red Butte Creek,” made their Plazafest debut.
“Our goal is to promote awareness of the creek — that it is a resource that we have on campus … we look for ways to incorporate the creek into course work and volunteer work or into research articles,” said club member Philip Stoker.
He added that the group has grown substantially as a new student group.
Martin Liccardo, a health educator from the Center for Student Wellness, said he was happy to be involved in the fair this year.
“Plazafest is a great way for us to get our [organization’s] information out to a large amount of students in a short amount of time,” he said.
The reaction of students to the fair was mixed. Freshmen Juan Salazar and Ana Antonio checked out a few of the tables during the event. Antonio said she came “to find out more about it — what things to get involved in.”
Salazar, however, was unimpressed.
“It needs more, it’s kind of boring,” he said.
Freshman Jenica Jessen came for similar reasons.
“I’m just looking around. I’m interested in seeing all of the clubs and programs that are here,” Jessen said.