The campus Involvement Fair ran from Tuesday to Thursday and featured nearly 200 recognized student organizations per day out of USC’s over 1,000 RSOs. It was a chance for new and returning students to speak with club officers and learn about campus activities.

The Involvement Fair, organized by USC Campus Activities, spanned Trousdale Parkway, Alumni Park and McCarthy Quad and ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the Trojan Welcome Experience.

“It’s been a great time,” said Ryan Long, a senior majoring in psychology, forensics and criminality who is also a guide trainer at SC Outfitters. “This club has a little bit for everybody. A lot of people are coming over and chatting with us.”

The fair was divided into seven categories of student organizations, including religious organizations, performing arts clubs, as well as social fraternities and sororities. Many clubs offered handouts and special activities for students to participate in.

“I just tried out slack lining. That was really cool,” said Miya Fujikawa, a freshman majoring in human biology.

Members of Trojan Knights, a service and spirit organization, carried swords and shields made of cardboard when speaking with potential recruits.

“I love meeting new people, grad students, freshmen … whatever it may be,” said Gabriel Harris, the diversity, equity and inclusion director for the Trojan Knights, and a sophomore majoring in architecture. “The fact that all of our clubs can get our names out early as possible; it just helped the semester run smoothly.”

Last fall, the University’s delayed processing of RSO renewal applications affected the Involvement Fair. Renewal applications are required annually for all student organizations to continue to be recognized as an RSO and to take part in the Involvement Fair.

As a result, USC hosted a series of four smaller and shorter RSO spotlight tabling fairs, instead of its traditional involvement fair.

“All of the tabling … was announced super last minute,” said Maya Reddy, a senior theatre design major and an officer of internal membership at Peaks and Professors outdoors club. “This year, the communication has been a lot better.”

In Fall 2024, Campus Activities set the deadline to register for the week one Involvement Fair as Aug. 16, just four days after the mandatory training was posted. Clubs also struggled to access these trainings and experienced delayed processing of their renewal applications, making many of them unable to complete the necessary requirements before the first involvement fair was set to begin.

This year, the University opened its RSO renewal applications July 25 instead of Aug. 8, revamped its website to include more detailed information about the RSO application process and hosted several information sessions and office hours in the weeks leading up to the involvement fair.

Harris said that the University’s communication regarding the Involvement Fair had improved.

“It was definitely running a lot smoother. We got to start a lot earlier this year,” Harris said. “That little fix just helps so many clubs out.”

Reddy said that Peaks and Professors was already able to become an RSO, as opposed to last year, when its RSO status did not come until five weeks into the semester.

“[It’s] so much better than last year,” Reddy said. “The timeline has been great.”

Addalice Flores, a sophomore majoring in political science, said that the Fair’s color-coded tents, which indicated what categories student organizations fit into, helped her navigate the fair. These color codes were indicated by maps posted around the fair, including QR codes with listings of clubs that were tabling.

“It definitely looks more organized,” Flores said.

Fujikawa felt that the fair went smoothly and enjoyed getting to connect with Nikkei Union, a Japanese American cultural organization at USC.

“I really liked it,” Fujikawa said. “I think it’s a good way to scout out opportunities and just find stuff that you’re interested in outside of classes.”

Jaimie Dang, a freshman neuroscience major, said that the Involvement Fair helped her connect with available clubs.

“I have so many clubs that I want to join now,” said Dang. “It definitely makes every student at USC feel like they have a place to belong.”