Opportunities abound at Quad Day

By Kate Gleason

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., thousands of students will swamp the Quad for Quad Day, an annual first week event.

At this time, more than 600 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) on campus, as well as other community groups, not-for-profit organizations and University departments, get to set up a booth and inform people of what their group is all about.

There will be service, academic, performance, professional and social groups. A food court will also be set up, and the Illinois cheerleaders will be there along with the Marching Illini.

Students are free to roam around the different booths and talk to groups in which they are interested.

“It’s the best snapshot of campus life students can possibly get,” said J. Brooks Moore, coordinator of Quad Day.

Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!

  • Catch the latest on University of Illinois news, sports, and more. Delivered every weekday.
  • Stay up to date on all things Illini sports. Delivered every Monday.
Thank you for subscribing!

According to Moore, students should expect a “festival” atmosphere.

“The Quad is alive with student spirit and enthusiasm on this day,” he said. “The mix of student organizations is so diverse but extraordinary.

“Last year we had 450 organizations involved and had just over 10,000 (people attend),” Moore said. “This year we’ve expanded to 600 and so we expect even more people.”

Cory Gardell, president of 3 Spot, a co-ed dance troupe with over 40 members, said she and some other members of the group will be at Quad Day.

“3 Spot decided to come out for Quad Day because it gets our name out to freshmen and other students who aren’t aware of our dance team,” she said. “It is a huge recruitment resource and we can tell others what we are all about.”

Kirsten Oliversen, senior in LAS, will be working at a booth on Quad Day for Psi Chi, a psychology national honors society.

“It’s important to join organizations, especially if you want to go to grad school,” she said. “And it just looks good on resumes.”

Moore said Quad Day has one ideal – to allow students a chance to get involved outside of the usual classes.

“We try to accomplish this in two ways. First, Quad Day allows registered student organizations a chance to publicize what they’re all about, and second, it allows students the opportunity to search out new ways to get involved,” Moore said.

“Quad Day has always been a chance to familiarize myself with all the clubs and organizations the U of I has to offer,” said senior in LAS Laura Avendano, who plans on attending the event.

With over 1,200 RSOs at the University, Moore said Quad Day is just a sampling of what students can do on campus.

“Students should come to Quad Day with an open mind,” he said. “They should come to experience something they never would have considered.”

Moore said he is hoping for nice weather, and offered this bit of advice for those planning to visit some of the 600-plus groups: Bring your walking shoes.