The tables set up for the annual Club Fair in Martha Washington Square on Tuesday, September 11, buzzed with conversation about family and friends. Students asked about clubs and their activities second.
The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon during the morning considerably overshadowed the event. The fair was scheduled to be run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Forty clubs requested space for the event -- so many that half a dozen tables had to be rented for the afternoon. Due to the cancelation of classes, the fair ended at 2:30 p.m.
Club Fair organizer and senior Gia Grier commented, "Attendance was down this year, I think because everyone was on the phone to friends or family. We got this location because it is a high-traffic area, with the poster sale and everyone going to class."
She added, "However with the cancelation of classes and basic shut-down of the campus this afternoon, we couldn't get the numbers of people we would have liked."
The numbers of clubs have increased this year, with their variety influenced by the student body's developing interests.
The organizations represented political, educational, artistic and athletic interests, including: College Republicans, the Dance Club, French Club, German Club, Black Student Union, the Musicians' Union, International Club, and Men's and Women's Rugby, to name a few.
Grier said, "This year's freshman class is active on campus -- a few of them manned tables [Tuesday]! Most of the groups get several new members over the course of the day. Some go all out with colorful or involved displays to draw a crowd."
Some groups also offered small gifts such as pencils and candy to encourage new members.
A new club is being formed this week called Students for Women's Rights, based on concerns held by several students that were not addressed by present campus organizations.
Juniors Bridget Cavaiola, Jill C. Brewer, and Lindsey George decided to create a group with the objective of advocacy for women's rights and equality on a local, national and global level throughout society.
"Our key issues are: reproductive freedom, adequate health care coverage, equal pay for equal work, equality within the family, support of clinics and non-violence," Cavaiola stated. "We had a good crowd at our table, and I thought attendance was high despite the circumstances."
Brewer added, "If you are interested, please contact us through Blitzmail. Everyone and anyone are welcome to join, no matter your gender."
Senior Dave Maresca offered his thoughts: "I'm sitting at a table trying to encourage membership. However, today the club fair really does not seem to matter. We forget we're college students looking for things to do. We're just people away from home worrying about our family, friends, and total strangers because something horrible has happened and we are freightened. Tomorrow, the school will try to continue with classes, but everything has changed."
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