Grace Cooper

The month of May started off with a bang as the Associated Students of Chemeketa, or ASC, threw their triannual Club Fair. This time, a Cinco de Mayo theme was chosen to honor and celebrate the upcoming holiday.

The club fair was held on May 1, 2024 at the Student Life Center and was observed with jubilance and excitement as clubs gathered to recruit new members. Large numbers of students and staff attended to celebrate the Mexican holiday together. 

As some clubs decorated with the usual table cloths, food and information about their club, others decided to pay homage to the holiday and the culture alongside it. The Organic Gardening Club suspended paper flowers of all shapes and colors along the wall and Reading Rainbows and the English Club displayed popular books written by Mexican-American authors. Either way, there was something for everyone at the Cinco de Mayo Club Fair. Along with the intricate decor that paid tribute to Mexican culture and history, there were traditional pupusas being served around the corner in the Multicultural Center. With the aroma of beans, cheese and meat filling the air, students were lined up for hours just to get a taste of the well-known El Salvadorian dish. 

Clubs in attendance also had the opportunity to receive additional funding through votes cast by attendees. Whichever three clubs decorated their table that best aligned with the Club Fair’s theme received funding to help finance club meetings, trips and events. The English Club came in first place, winning $200; the Science Club came in second, winning $100; and in third place came the Reading Rainbows and the Chemeketa Service Leaders in a tie. All in all, the Cinco de Mayo Club Fair was a hit with both students and staff, bringing excitement and fun to campus.