SIS Fair aims to get students involved despite the pandemic conditions

For some, getting involved on campus seemed impossible this semester, but despite all the trials 2020 has brought, the annual Student Involvement Services (SIS) fair was still able to be held.

On Thursday, clubs from across campus gathered on Cumberland Drive between the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) and Reisner Dining Hall to display what they have to offer students. Shippensburg offers more than 150 clubs and organizations for students to join. The SIS fair provides the opportunity for students to explore clubs such as Greek Life, professional societies, student media and intramural or club sports.

Each club was permitted one table and one representative to stand at the table to talk to potential new members. Masking was enforced for attendees and club representatives.

While social distancing was encouraged, it was visibly not enforced at the SIS fair. Students crowded around tables and traveled in clumps throughout the street. Videos circulated on social media of large crowds of people at the SIS fair.

Some club members bounced between multiple tables.

Senior Olivia Sommers said, “I am president of both the Cycling Club and the Women Business Leaders Club, which were both tabling at the SIS fair this year.”

Clubs were allowed to decorate their tables to showcase their clubs and what they do across campus. Many organizations had trifolds of information for potential members to look at. Some Greek organizations displayed large wooden letters, composites and decorative paddles to draw the attention of attendees.

The Cycling Club brought bicycles and spoke to interested students about their program.

“The SIS fair is a great way to interact with freshmen and transfer students looking to get involved but may not know how,” said Sommers. “It allows a student to see all Ship has to offer in person rather than just looking at a list of organizations online.”

SU offers students the opportunity to create and establish their own clubs or organizations. Only one semester after being officially recognized as a fraternity on campus, Theta Chi received the 2019-20 Chapter of the Year award through the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

For students that missed the SIS fair, getting involved on campus is still possible. Many clubs display their recruitment opportunities on flyers around campus, or can be found on SU’s website.