TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The light rain did not prevent the University of Alabama’s quad from attending the semiannual Get on Board Day on Aug. 28.
There were over 500 student organizations and clubs present at this year’s Get on Board Day. Each organization and club had an individual table with at least one or two spokespeople present. There were various categories such as academic based, hobby-related, religious, or university-run.
The goal of Get On Board Day is to connect students with clubs and organizations of their interest.
“This event is helpful for students to find organizations that they may have never thought of before,” said Maelee Hamlett, a University of Alabama senior and the president of the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta.
“A lot of people just don’t know we exist,” stated Abigayle Mclelland, a University of Alabama sophomore and second-year member of Bama Catholic. Mclelland explained that there are “7,000 Catholics on campus, but only 1,600 in the GroupMe.” Mclelland stated that Get On Board Day is a beneficial event that pushes for students to become engaged with groups they have an interest in but may not know are available.
While Get On Board day serves as an excellent way for students to find community, it also provides knowledge of the resources available to them. One of these resources present was the Office of Information Technology. The table host was available at this event to answer any current technological questions that students may have had. The table host explained where the Information Technology office is and showcased the 24/7 hotline.
A few other helpful resources that were present at this event were the Passport Acceptance Facility, Students Against Suicide, and the ACT Card services. The ACT is what University of Alabama students use to enter dining halls, check in to events, and provide proof of identification for some testing centers. Resources like these are crucial for students to be aware of.
Having these resources available at a public event like Get On Board Day offers a way for students to be introduced to these organizations and become acclimated to campus.
