The Fall Campus-Wide Involvement Fair was held last night in the Student Union, featuring over 200 student organizations represented by informational booths located throughout the building.
The event billed itself as "an easy way to explore many of the exciting things to do and get involved with on campus," according to an informational brief on the UConn Department of Student Activities Web page.
Tier 2 organizations, which are organizations allowed to petition USG for funding, and Tier 3 organizations, independently endowed organizations including Greek life, were allowed to participate.
To be considered a Tier 2 organization at UConn, a group's president, treasurer and secretary must attend training sessions where they are educated by the Division of Student Activities about how to best execute their responsibilities as officers.
All three officers must also attend a Funding Workshop hosted by USG.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 organizations were given until Aug. 14 to register for a chance to be allowed space at the fair.
Various student organizations host booths at this event every semester.
"We're always looking for new players, they're always welcome to come out," said Tara Byrne, a 7th-semester political science major and girl's rugby club member.
"It gets our name out there," said Jessica Shlager, a 9th-semester strength and conditioning major.
Despite the event's popularity, some group leaders were unsatisfied with the evening's outcome.
"I felt like it was poorly organized," said Jason Ortiz, president of the UConn American Civil Liberties Union and former USG presidential candidate. "I felt like there were a lot of student groups that wanted to get in but couldn't, and for an event like the involvement fair, that is absolutely vital."
Several organizations with which Ortiz is associated - including Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and the UConn ACLU - were barred entry to the event.
The UConn ACLU - one of the organizations that was wait-listed after applying for a booth at the event - was allowed by Idealists United to share their booth space.
After being informed that they were not registered as a Tier 2 organization - despite having fulfilled all of the above-mentioned requirements - SSDP decided to host their own meet-and-greet event on Fairfield Way between the Student Union and the School of Business building.
Many of the organization's members were satisfied with this alternative outcome.
"They had some more space to talk," said Ortiz.
Ortiz believes the group's exclusion was likely due to a clerical error within the Department of Student Activities.
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