Finding fun in the sun
Ryan Howell did not have a bad deal at the Activities Fair.
The captain of Virginia Men's Crew could stand in the shade to make his sales pitch to potential rowers.
An occasional water misting, courtesy of the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department truck, proved another luxurious advantage of Howell's perch on the hill above the amphitheater.
Across the sidewalk Rupa Patel, an Engineering School graduate student and volunteer firefighter, found the truck advantageous for another reason.
"I think it catches [people's] attention," she said, clutching an ax that was also garnering attention from a passerby. "It's easy to get lost down there."
"Down there" was a tactful euphemism for describing the hot and sweaty amphitheater pit, where a paper palace of posters, banners, fliers and sign-up sheets inundated browsers with information.
Standing in front of a rainbow-colored display, third-year college student Warren McLellan tried to attract potential recruits to REALITY, a new groupthat educates middle-schoolers about responsible decision making.
"For a new CIO, membership is the number one priority," McLellan said. "We're surprised at how many people have stopped and given us their e-mail address."
Near the concrete stage, where a stereo set-up boomed a soundtrack of Better Than Ezra and the Dave Matthews Band, first-year Suzanne Hudgins was just beginning her rounds.
"I'm in the E-school so I'm looking for physical activity to take my mind off it," said Hudgins, in between audition sign-ups for Rhapsody Dance and Virginia Dance Company.
Second-years Amanda Mopsick and Allison Correll enjoyed a new perspective on the Activities Fair.
"I think I'm joining more things this year," Mopsick said. "As a second-year I know that I want to be involved and what I want to be involved in."
Correll agreed, recalling how "blown away" she had been last year at the multitude of organizations.
Many students didn't mind being blown away this year, though.
One of the few ways to keep cool was by clutching the Alumni Association's treasured give-away -- a blue and neon yellow hand-held fan.
"It's really nice," said Liz Render, fiddling with the one she found at her College Campaign for Organ Donation post. "I wish it worked."
Compiled by Catherine Dunn
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