To kick off the school year, minority organizations are welcoming students with programs that will allow them to gain information about their groups.
Asian Pacific American Student Organization will be sponsoring a Welcome Back Banquet today at 6 p.m. in the Union Ballroom. Executive board members will be on hand to answer questions from students who are interested in becoming involved in APASO. Information pamphlets will also be available.
Nathaniel Doromal, vice president of APASO, said he thinks the event will go well.
“It will be a way of getting the students acquainted,” said the computer science senior. “It will be a fun time to hang out and meet new people.”
The event, which has been active for the last ten years, saw one of its most successful years last year, said Romeo Salvani, APASO’s co-president.
“A lot of new people came, he said. “It was one of the best ones so far.
“There were more people than I expected, and the flow of the program went really well.”
Salvani said he expects this year’s event will do well because APASO has “fresh faces and new ideas.”
Black Student Alliance will be collaborating with the Office of Minority Student Affairs for the Black Student Alliance Student Welcome Reception from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday at the rock on Farm Lane.
BSA President Mary Phillips is looking forward to the event.
“It will be a chance for African Americans to meet each other,” she said. “Also, to learn about some of the academic resources on campus and learn about different African-American organizations on campus.”
Phillips, a health studies senior, said organizations such as Spartan Soul and the Martin Luther King Committee will also be on hand to provide students with information. Phillips is optimistic about this year’s event.
“It kind of gets you pumped for the school year,” she said. “I think we’ll get a good turnout. It’ll make students more comfortable on campus.”
The North American Indian Student Organization will be having a welcome reception at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Lafayette Square in Brody Hall. Its purpose will be to recruit students and provide information about Native American clubs on campus.
Nasbah Hill, a psychology sophomore and NAISO co-chair, said the format of the reception is in the hands of the students.
“It’s just basically what the students want to do, and you get to meet the faculty,” she said. “We’re just trying to recruit and get a lot of people involved in it.”
Culturas de las Razas Unidas will be sponsoring a reception from 7 p.m.- midnight on Thursday in Big Ten rooms A and B at the Kellogg Center.
In addition to providing information to students who are interested in CRU, Dr. Lee June, vice president of student affairs, will speak at the event to welcome students.
Misty Staunton, a CRU co-chair, said the event is also for non-minority students.
“We’ve always had great turnouts,” said the pre-med sophomore. “We’re also here to educate other students. We’ve always had a diverse attendance. We want (people) to see what this organization is about.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
