AMELIE SEDLACK / FEATURE EDITOR

USD hosted the Alcalá Bazaar, the club fair for students held at the start of every semester. The Alcalá Bazaar presents students with every club – affinity groups, fraternities, sororities, intramural sports and interest groups – on campus that students can choose to join. Here, students can meet friends, find a group they feel belonging with and find groups that share their same interests and values. 

USD senior Courtnae Moran shared her thoughts on the Alcalá Bazaar. 

“I also think it’s a great way to explore new clubs on campus,” Moran said. “They always have such fun things to give out. You can meet new people too because everyone is there. It’s always so busy and I love it. It’s just a super great way to get to know USD and what’s going on currently.”

The Alcalá Bazaar has something for all students of all years. No matter how many times they return, there is always a new club for students to find and join. 

“There’s so many that we have here,” Moran said. “I mean, people are so creative these days and they always come up with so many. So there’s always room for more.”

LJ Quattlebaum, a USD sophomore, spoke on his experience at the Alcalá Bazaar. 

“They have every club I can think of,” Quattlebaum said. “I was walking through and there were clubs I would have never even thought about. Honestly, I think they did a pretty good job.”

USD sophomore Tristen Pecevich recalled his time walking through the rows of tables at the Bazaar. 

“I feel like they have a million clubs here,” Pecevich said. “They have literally everything.” 

USD first-year Jaedyn Kaylor reflected on her first experience with the Alcalá Bazaar. 

Students tabling for the sorority Gamma Phi at the Alcalá Bazaar. Hailey Howell/The USD Vista

“It definitely helps underclassmen get engaged with the different clubs,” Kaylor recalled. “I don’t think I would have known about the hiking club if I didn’t come to this. I think it was a very good way for me to get involved.” 

USD junior Joelle Alex explained why she continues to return to the Alcalá Bazaar every semester. 

“As I progress more through USD I feel like I realize how many things are out there, things that particularly interest me,” Alex said. “Being able to see that on campus, at Alcalá Bazaar, is also really nice. Also, being able to outreach and get to meet new people and get to meet new people who are also interested in the same things as me.”

Because the Alcalá Bazaar returns every semester, students have the opportunity to try out many clubs at once and also re-sign up for clubs they weren’t as involved with originally as they had hoped. 

Pecevich explained his agreement with this. 

“I would look for a philosophy club,” Pecevich said. “I signed up for that last Alcalá Bazaar and didn’t go to any of them.”

While many students find plenty of clubs to get involved with, there are also students who don’t see their interests represented in the options presented to them. 

Jaden Abara, a USD first-year, recalled her first time at the club fair. 

“I want to look for more fun clubs,” Abara said. “I saw a lot of hobbies clubs but none that … drew my attention. I didn’t see a … music playing club.” 

USD first-year Emma Cruz-Colin also found herself hoping for more clubs that shared her interests. 

“Probably more creative clubs,” Cruz-Colin said. “I saw a lot of sorority clubs and sports clubs but I was looking for more – not artistic but, for example, crochet club, or painting club, or ceramics club. Or something more creative.”

While Alex found her place among the many clubs and organizations, she spoke of others who are still searching. 

“I’m on the e-board for the African Student Union and one of our newest members talked about how she would like to see an African dancing club,” Alex explained. “Maybe a couple more cultural clubs  that  are  nicher  to certain other interests. Something like design or dance I think would be a good addition to Alcalá Bazaar.”

Fortunately, students are not limited to only the clubs that are out at the Bazaar. USD also encourages students to make their own clubs. 

Moran spoke on her thoughts of creating her own club. 

“I know a couple people who have [started a new club],” Moran said.  “I  think  it’s  a pretty interesting thing to do. I don’t know if I would, just because it’s a lot of time but I think it’s something that is very doable and I feel like the university is very supportive of it.” 

Alex expressed her agreement with this view. 

“I’ve thought about it,” Alex stated. “Obviously running a club is a lot of work. It requires a lot of organization, a lot of time but  I have thought about it. I would like to see encouraging other people to start clubs, to get to know other people, to bring other people in and to share and cultivate ideas together. I think it’s really beneficial.” 

Kaylor expressed her openness   to   starting  a  new club.

“I think over the next four years if I’m really intrigued by something I wouldn’t be opposed to start my own club,” Kaylor said.

Quattlebaum also shared thoughts of  starting his own club. 

“If I could get a good idea, I probably would [start a new club],” Quattlebaum   expressed. 

The Alcalá Bazaar offers a wide variety of clubs for all students to look into and try out from clubs and affinity groups to sororities and  fraternities. If there’s anything more a student wishes to see, they are encouraged to take the steps to share their interest with the rest of the student body at the next Alcalá Bazaar. As long as students are open to adding to the diverse array of clubs, the Alcalá Bazaar will always have something to offer to every Torero looking for new friends and a place to belong.

USD students learn about the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at the Alcalá Bazaar. Hailey Howell/The USD Vista