Contradictory of its commuter campus reputation, Sacramento State opened up the 2013 spring semester with a lively quad full of info booths ran by it’s many student organizations. 

Club day, which actually lasts around two weeks, is for organizations to hand out fliers and converse with incoming freshmen and transfer students in an attempt to recruit members. 

Jon Behrens, a 23-year-old criminal justice major, is an active member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity which sets up for club day each semester in hopes to gain new members.

“Getting involved in any organization on campus is beneficial for everyone,” Behrens said. “Whether it’s for community service or the greek system, just getting involved is really going to enhance your experience here at Sac State and make you want to come back and be an active alumni.”

Behrens also said with Sac State’s commuter school vibe, it is tough for students to find an incentive to join on-campus organizations.

Many students like those involved in campus organizations take pride in doing so, but for others, club day requires taking an alternate route to avoid the quad. 

Amber Hirtel, a criminal justice major, transferred four semesters ago from San Diego State University, but just recently decided to get involved. 

“You know it’s kind of funny because I used to avoid the tables when I wasn’t involved and now that I am, I’m more open to look at the organizations,” Hirtel said. “I know a lot of people try to avoid the tables but there’s always those few that are interested.”

Hirtel said her commute from Galt every day was a initially a large factor in her decision to remain uninvolved, but eventually she decided to join a sorority. 

“I had been dying to get involved on campus,” Hirtel said. “I don’t know why it took me so long, maybe because I commute. (Commuters) don’t spend a lot of time on campus.” 

Hirtel’s sorority Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society is a newer club on campus that accepts all majors, however they were unable to reserve a booth space for the event. 

Tom Carroll, interim director of student organizations and leadership, said the Student Organization and Leadership (SOL) office loosely coordinates the effort so that as many organizations as possible can get a space on the quad.

“There’s 109 clubs out here with booths trying to let other students know about them,” Carroll said. “It’s a great way for students to interact with a third of the student clubs on campus.”

Carroll said the small percentage of student organizations tabling on club day are for the most part sorority or fraternity organizations, but for students looking for more specific clubs information is always available in the SOL office. 

Organizations on campus range through a variety of different purposes. Greek-letter sororities and fraternities that are either educationally, socially or culturally based typically table during club days but organizations that are academic, recreational or special interest exist on campus as well.