By Abby Rathburn | Staff Writer
Students lit up Fountain Mall Friday night with smiling faces and energetic conversations as they explored Baylor’s Late Night club fair.
Presented by Student Activities, Late Night is a massive club fair where students can meet Baylor’s 400+ student organizations and activities all in one place. While the majority of organizations are located around Fountain Mall or 5th Street, other student organizations can be found in the Barfield Drawing Room, Student Life Center and Russell Gym.
Late Night offered new students the opportunity to connect with organizations tailored to their specific interests. The Colony freshman Michael Benavides said he came hoping to find an entrepreneurship-focused organization that was aligned with his career goals.
Oklahoma City freshman Radha Pramod said she came with her friends, and that the group took their time to pursue organizations that each of them is passionate about.
“It is kind of overwhelming, but seeing this many people come out just shows how much the Baylor community really cares for each of the different groups here and how they all really want to be involved,” Pramod said.
Tomball freshman Sophia Rizzo echoed the same feeling when describing her own experiences.
“It definitely feels like community,” she said. “People want to talk to you and get to know you.”
Late Night serves as one example of Baylor’s identity brought to life. According to the Baylor mission statement, Baylor exists to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring environment.
In alignment with these values and in response to what many new students are seeking, club leaders are making an effort to implement a shared sense of unity into their own organizations.
“I just hope all these guys find a really great community, and as a Christian, I hope they all find a great Christian community because that’s what matters to me,” BYX Rush Chair and Temple sophomore Clark Morrison said.
However, well before the crowds began to flood in, club leaders were already working behind the scenes to create a welcoming environment for students in search of a place to belong.
Morrison said he appreciates Late Night because it gives students the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zones and find the places that are right for them.
“Focus on having an open mind because college is going to have a lot of opportunities, and there’s a lot of growth, which is something that I didn’t really realize the first couple of weeks I’d been here,” he said.
Nashville, Tennessee, senior and President of Student Foundation Owen Reed said getting involved in simple ways, such as writing down an email address, does not require any large commitment from students right away.
“All these people want you to join these clubs and be in their organizations,” he said. “You got to get out there and want to join as well.”
San Antonio freshman Michael Sideman said it can be even easier than this and offered a piece of advice to his fellow freshmen.
“Say yes to everyone, smile and enjoy yourselves,” he said.
