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SF State’s Quad bustled with activity Wednesday, Sept. 4, as students flew down slides, competed in obstacle courses and enjoyed free food courtesy of Associated Students, Inc.’s second annual ASI Kick-off.
The event provided students with food, carnival games and inflatable attractions hosted by a variety of student organizations, setting the tone for ASI‘s semester full of student activities.
“This was just for students to begin the year having fun, hopefully socialize with each other, and of course getting to know the Associated Students and student center and to learn about our programs,” said Aimée Barnes, assistant director of program services for the student center. “But really today was just a day to say, ‘Oh we’re here to have fun,’ engage with our students and make it a social place for students to come together.”
In its second year, the Kick-off is ASI’s way of involving more student services and entertainment to correlate with the growing on-campus lifestyle and younger average age of students enrolled at SF State.
“We are being more inclusive to what our campus looks like now,” said Horace Montgomery, director of programs and services at ASI. “Now we have a lot more students who live here, who aren’t coming from Hayward or commuting from Oakland, so we have more of a normal campus now, and normal campuses have younger people, and younger people do this.”
The event also presented a variety of clubs and fraternities with the chance to reach out and promote their organizations to the student population. One activity had teams of students, or clubs, compete against each other in an obstacle course for the top prize of a golden Nike shoe.
“(The event) kind of gets people in one located area and gets people out of their shells,” said Marisa Hadley, member of Improv Nation, an improvisational comedic group whose live performances are unscripted and involve audience participation. “It’s an entertainment based event. People just come out here to have fun and that’s what our club is all about, so it kinda goes hand in hand.”
Although the ASI Kick-off offers students the opportunity to be acquainted with campus groups and each other, Montgomery still believes that not enough students are involved with SF State’s ASI and Student Life Activities Board.
“Other than slapping you on the hand and saying ‘Hey, we’re here,’ this is kind of it. We are here to let people know we have services for you, and to please come and use them,” Montgomery said.
The event showed promising results. Students vocalized enjoyment of the festivities.
“It was pretty amazing. I’ve done everything out here,” said Cristina Miramontes, a French major who is in her first semester at SF State. “If we see that (they) do these types of events it makes us wanna join.”
While ASI plans more events on campus, students have the ability to choose what types of events ASI should host by giving feedback directly to members of the board.
“We are always open to ideas,” said Dean of Students Joseph Greenwell. “Ever since we’ve been enhancing the student life experience, it has been based on student feedback, and what students wanted to see on campus.”
Students can make suggestions by visiting a member of the student government, sending an email to the appropriate organization or by participating in the planned activities on campus.
The next campus event will be a movie screening of “Iron Man 3” at the Cesar Chavez Rooftop Amphitheater on Monday, Sept. 9.
