The seventh annual Student Organization Expo showcased 78 student organizations on Tuesday. The event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., was a tabling event designed for students to meet and mingle with members of various San Diego State student organizations.
In addition to tabling, there was also the Aztec Bash at State, a free barbecue hosted by vice president for Student Affairs James Kitchen, which served hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers, chips and drinks to approximately 1,600 students who showed their RedIDs.
Kitchen said events in the beginning of the school year are a great way for incoming students to socialize. Last year there were 280 student organizations on campus, including fraternities and sororities.
“It’s good to try to meet somebody new and different than who you are,” Kitchen said. “That is one of the good things about Welcome Week and tabling.”
He also said he appreciates students supporting their organizations at SDSU.
“It is beyond words, it’s indescribable, because this is why we do what we do,” he said.
Sara Pianavilla, a senior classics major, said the Student Organization Expo is a great opportunity for incoming students to get involved on campus. As the current vice president of Umanisti, a club for classics and humanities majors, she said as a freshman she enjoyed seeing the variety clubs on campus.
“I became involved early because I knew I would become friends with people who had similar interests,” Pianavilla said.
Junior political science major Joe Peacock and the public relations officer for the Pre-Law Society, said he knows tabling events like these are a great way to increase participation and membership.
He also said the student interest in the Pre-Law Society was impressive, with more than 70 students signing up for more information.
“We are expecting a huge increase in numbers for next week’s meeting just because of this event,” Peacock said.
Kitchen said he pushes students to become involved with SDSU by participating in good, healthy activities, like those offered during Welcome Week and Aztec Nights.
The Student Organization Expo is one of the many events to participate in during Welcome Week. Although Welcome Week ends this Saturday, Aztec Nights will continue to entertain students Thursday and Sunday evenings until Sept. 23.
Tonight, there will be a campus carnival on Campanile Walkway from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tomorrow, the Aquaplex will host a pool party from noon to 4 p.m, where students can enjoy pizza and music — all free to students, with a RedID.
The Expo was sponsored by Student Life and Leadership, and Welcome Week is sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and co-sponsored by various other on-campus organizations.
