Spring SOVO Fair promotes student involvement by Erica Terrini

The Spring Student Organization and Volunteer Opportunities Fair gave returning and new students the chance to meet with more than 150 student organizations and community non-profit groups Friday in the University Student Commons.

The SOVO Fair, which takes place once every semester, is offered by the Office of Student Organization and Development, a part of the University Student Commons and Activities Department.

Space for the SOVO Fair was limited. For the first time, student and community groups had to sign up online in advance to participate in the three-hour event, according to John Butt, the coordinator for the Office of Student Organization Development.

“We’ve had a great turn out so far,” Butt said. “This is definitely one of the best Spring SOVO Fairs we’ve had in a while.”

Butt said the SOVO Fair is geared toward incoming students, usually freshmen or transfer students, who might not be familiar with involvement opportunities VCU has to offer.

While student organizations are not required to participate, Butt said the Office of Student Organization Development encourages all student organizations to participate by e-mailing reminders to sign up.

“It’s a great way for them to get their name out there, to get new members and things of that nature,” Butt said.

Donald Hawkins II, the public relations chair for the Black Student Union, said Friday’s fair was his second time promoting the BSU.

“We got two pages full of people’s e-mails and names,” Hawkins said. “A lot of people are interested and a lot of times a lot of people don’t know (about BSU) until later in the semester.”

Brandon Basile, the English Club president, helped represent the Def Poets Society.

“There (were not many) poetry events going on through VCU,” Basile said. “Poetry seems like such a taboo thing.”

Raven Wright promoted the student organization Queer Action.

“My first semester, I didn’t want to join a club,” Wright said. “Now, I want to be an ambassador, maybe rush, and volunteer.”

The Office of Student Organization and Development offers multiple opportunities to promote student involvement. Leadership and training programs and workshops are held regularly throughout the semester.

For more information, visit http://www.usca.vcu.edu/stu_orgs.html.