Fresno State held its semesterly Traditions Day on Wednesday Aug. 28, giving students the opportunity to connect with clubs and organizations on campus.
Hundreds of students gathered at the University Student Union balcony and looked over the clubs, searching for one that suits them.
For Arizbe Barraza, a third year criminal justice major and member of the women’s rugby club this is exactly what happened. After seeing the club’s flyers around campus and eventually at club rush, she decided to join.
“I came in not knowing a single thing about rugby but I grew to love it,” Barraza said. “It’s like the more you learn, the more you end up loving it.”
Barraza has now been part of the club for three years and two of those she has served as the club’s fundraising chair.
“Before college, I played soccer but when I moved out here to Fresno, I had nothing else to do,” Barraza said. “I would just stay home and do homework. But after homework, I would just be bored so I just ended up committing to another sport.”
Despite the difference between the sports, Barraza has had quite an experience in the club including a chipped tooth and still believes it’s a perfect fit.
“Well I got my tooth chipped,” Barraza said. “But other than that, I love the friendships. Everyone is nice. We study together, we hang together, we go to the movies together. It’s just like another sisterhood I have and I am glad I met everybody on the team.”
This is her second year tabling for the club at Traditions Day and has noticed an increase of students stopping by with approximately 25 here and another 120 at Dog Days Orientation over the summer.
For Iris Cruz, public health major and transfer from Fresno City College, it was her first time at Traditions Day.
Back at Fresno City, Cruz was an active member in a few clubs such as the community service club, which she enjoyed because it gave her the opportunity to have some fun outside of classes and de-stress.
“The aspect of community is really important on college campuses and for academic success so students feel welcome and included,” Cruz said.
An up-and-coming club on campus is Furries for Fresno State, which had one of their members, JL Bravo, in his fur suit in almost 95 degree weather greeting students.
The club became an officially registered club last year, gaining some traction through Traditions Day, social media and word of mouth, according to president of the club and music education major, Remy Cottrell.
“Think about it, by the USU there are all those booths but there are only about 20 and there are over 200 clubs at Fresno State,” Cottrell said. “You can do the math. It is not like clubs can waltz over and easily get a booth. So the easiest way for students to find a club is through Traditions Day.”
For the furries, Traditions Day is essential as it allows them to get out into the public atmosphere since they do not have a permanent booth on campus. It allows those who are unfamiliar with the concept of furries to see it in person.
“That is why we have the club,” Cottrell said. “There is sort of a stigma around it but it is starting to go away, as people realize, some people just like to have silly little creatures to represent themselves and the club is just a place to have fun.”
The Furries for Fresno State just serves as a safe space for everyone on campus. Cottrell describes the club meetings to be more of a group hangout where students can play games, get lost in discussion or occasionally do things like make badges of their “fursonas” which is the animalistic alter ego or identity someone in the furry fandom adopts.
Students that were unable to attend Traditions Day can find a list of clubs and organizations on campus online.
