DeKALB – Day one of the Involvement Fair occurred from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at MLK Commons.
Student organizations had tables throughout MLK Commons where they could talk with other students about their respective organizations.
Brynn Pazanin, a senior earth, atmosphere and environment major and president of the Delta Zeta sorority, explained why she chose to join a sorority.
“I joined a sorority because I was really jealous of all the people who had so many friends, and now I have a lot of friends. It is just a great way to make connections,” Pazanin said.
Don Cajica, a junior finance major and member of the DND club, emphasized the importance of checking the NIU website consistently to know about upcoming events.
“Pay attention to the NIU website. There are events going on all the time, it is worth it,” Cajica said.
For those unable to attend the first day of the Involvement Fair, there is a second day of the Involvement Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at MLK Commons.
CAMPUS MEETS COMMUNITY:
The Campus Meets Community Block Party, an annual event aimed at familiarizing students with the local businesses and organizations of the DeKalb area, took place at MLK Commons on Wednesday.
A variety of vendors attended the event including businesses, advocacy groups and NIU-affiliated organizations. Many students attended the event.
Denver Starzynski, a senior communication major, said she was looking forward to seeing the businesses in attendance at the event..
“It’s actually my first time being at an Involvement Fair when they have the community businesses here, so I’m intrigued to look at that later,” Starzynski said.
Trent Starzynski, a senior music major, appreciated the awareness being brought to the DeKalb businesses.
“I think it’s really interesting seeing some of the local stuff around in the community. Definitely some stuff that I didn’t know was here, which is really neat. I feel it’s easy to pass by a lot of smaller and local businesses and not notice that they’re there,” Starzynski said.
Jim Doherty represented the OLT Marketing vendor, which produces promotional material for NIU.
“We provide the university with all sorts of logo items, whether they’re coffee mugs, t-shirts, pens, pencils. We’re one of the leading suppliers to NIU for promotion,” Doherty said.
Cody Millhouse, a senior political science major and intern for Republican senator Sue Rezin, gave information about Rezin, who represents District 38 of Illinois.
“We do a lot of different state work with state agencies and offer internships for students here at NIU,” Millhouse said. “As an intern myself, we basically will help constituents with any case work they may have with state agencies, and we go door to door to make sure people in the area know about the senator that represents them in Springfield.”
Laura Jackson, doctoral student in business psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and founder of Her Advocacy, promoted Democratic candidate Murri Briel for the Representative of the 76th district of Illinois.
“She (Briel) really represents the working class, unions, laborers, as well as women, reproductive rights, access to healthcare. She’s really interested in building up healthcare systems in rural areas as well as infrastructure,” Jackson said.
