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UNK Student Government hosted the Student Organization Fair. The event offered over 40 booths for students to get involved across campus.

The event had a high turn out despite fears of low attendance due to COVID-19.

“Every year we host the Student Org Fair in the fall and the spring,” said Mark Barrientos, UNK Student Government’s chair for the student affairs and public relations committee. “This [event] is where students can come and just meet different organizations that are on campus, and kind of get to know different people and see if they’re interested in joining anything.”

This event was held around the campus greens and the new Cope Fountain for the first time since its completion this summer. Last fall, it was held on the sidewalks outside of the Student Union. 

“I really like it,” said Beatriz Ramirez, a sophomore psychology major and behavioral and mental health minor. “People get to walk around with the fountain being done, it’s just more of a vibe.”

A Facebook Live stream of Barrientos as well as Student Body Vice President Trey Janicek kicked off the event at 11 am. Barrientos and Janicek visited organization’s booths, asked them questions and encouraged viewers to get involved at the event. 

UNK Student Government starts planning for this even as early as the summer to ensure as many organizations sign up as possible. To register, organizations can visit the Student Engagement Office or visit Presence, UNK’s main online platform for student organizations.

“If they’re a recognized student organization, or even if they’re just starting out, and they’re just looking for a way to recruit, we let them be a part of it,” said Tim Danube, associate director of the student union and student engagement.

At the event, social distancing and masks were enforced, and tables were more spread out compared to previous student organization fairs. Even with the additional rules in place, only approximately a dozen student organizations decided not to sign up, compared to last fall. Students were also able to see a list of registered organizations on Presence before the event started.

“Some groups are just still not real sure about coming out and doing stuff, so we’re down groups a little bit, but I think that the groups that have been here worked real hard,” said Danube. “It’s been enjoyable.”

The coronavirus won’t stop students from wanting to get involved.

“The org fair lets the freshman know what’s going on around campus, and even the second year students and the third year students to get involved in more organizations,” Ramirez said. “I know I want to get involved more this year, and I’m a sophomore, so having this is, like, really important just to know what clubs and organizations are on campus.”