Associated Students hosts second annual Kick-Off Fair

Associated Students hosted its second annual Kick-Off Fair to introduce students to the resources it offers on Oct. 9. The event on the Annex Lawn included free Sam’s To Go sandwiches, a petting zoo, a photo booth and tabling from multiple organizations.

Associated Students (A.S.) hosts its Kick-Off Fair annually to educate students on the services and opportunities that it provides. The fair also sought to advocate for marginalized groups and uphold their success by reaching out and recruiting different communities.

The fair featured a petting zoo, courtesy of the A.S. Commission on Student Well Being, free Sandwiches from Sam’s To Go and a photo booth. Tablers at the event included Raíces de mi Tierra, The Bottom Line, KCSB and the A.S. Bike Committee, Food Bank, Program Board, Office of the Student Advocate (OSA), Transfer Student Alliance, Global Gaucho Commission and the Community Financial Fund.

The event was spearheaded by A.S. President and fourth-year political science major E.J. Raad, who was in charge of booking the space, reserving tables and chairs, ordering the food, assembling A.S. to table and marketing. Raad expressed gratitude for the turnout at the event. 

“You see them interacting with tables, talking to the people in A.S. and learning about it. It’s a really good turnout, so I think it’s going really great,” Raad said.

A.S. External Vice President for Statewide Affairs and third-year biology major Jasmine Hsieh stated that the location of the fair and petting zoo were what interested her the most.

“I think the place is very strategic, putting it on this walkway. A lot of students are passing through,” Hsieh said. “The petting zoo seems very fun. Did not get to see the pig, but he seemed cute.”

Second-year history major and OSA Director of Public Interest Isabella Le enjoyed introducing students to resources OSA provides.

“We’ve been able to talk to a lot of people who haven’t previously heard about OSA and really spread the word about who we are and what we do as an organization,” Le said.

Meanwhile, second-year political science major and OSA External Deputy Chief of Staff Anushka Kumaran enjoyed the community-building experience of the fair.

“We’ve been not only talking to other students who aren’t part of A.S. but just other A.S. orgs,” Kaumaran said. “We’ve been going to tables, filming content with them and speaking with them. I think that’s what A.S. is all about.”

A version of this article appeared on p. 6 of the Oct. 15 print edition of the Daily Nexus.