When he first got to campus, Stevenson University student Tim Villanueva looked around and saw that there were not many other students of Asian descent. So Villanueva, the president and founder of Asian American Pacific Islander Student Union (AAPISU), created a home for people with similar cultural backgrounds as him.
“Our club is definitely kind of a haven and social place for Asians on campus, because if you look around campus there’s not many of us. So, I made this club to bring us all together,” Villanueva said.
On Jan. 29. at Stevenson University’s Rockland banquet hall, Student Life and Leadership hosted its biannual involvement fair that provides new and old students the opportunity to learn more about clubs and organizations like the AAPISU on campus.
Clare Oshman is the communication manager for the Tabletop Roleplaying Games club, one of the many club members that has a goal to give every student the opportunity to be a part of a specific community.
“We’re really trying to focus on building a community of people with similar interests,” Oshman said. “As a new club, we want to get our name out there and help bring people together because this club really is about expressing your identities.”
Arcade was the theme for this semester’s fair, and many club leaders like Villanueva explained that they decided to incorporate easy to play games at their table to break the ice and help students to make a connection to club members.
The connections that students make at the involvement fair are not extinguished when the event is over. Villanueva stated that members that have joined in the past are now club board members. Clubs like Asian American Pacific Islander Student Union offer students the chance to interact with new environments and people.
“One thing I try to promote is that you don’t have to be Asian to join,” Villanueva said.
Many other club members echo Villanueva’s sentiment. Madison Parish, the president of the Powerlifter club expressed that anyone who is into or curious about exercise is welcome to join the club.
Administrative coordinator Kathy Wilt stated that each club member is continuing to uphold the original goal of the involvement fair.
“The involvement fair started so that students could get involved on campus,” Wilt said. “A lot of them don’t know all the clubs that are here and so this kind of event puts it out there so if they are interested in something that they have not seen on campus, yet they can go to that table and sign up.”
Although the fair only featured 40 involvement opportunities, Stevenson University offers over 80 clubs and organizations that provide students with new communities, friends, and a place they can call home.
Note: *** Clare Oshman is a member of the Villager staff ***
