Get Acquainted Day attracts large, diverse crowd

(NOTE: This article orginially appeared in the August 29, 2008 edition of Central Michigan Life.)

Farmington Hills junior Dan MacHue said riding the mechanical bull at Get Acquainted Day was something more students should try.

"It's great," MacHue said. "I think this is somthing everyone should do atleast once."

The 30th annual Get Acquainted Day on Wednesday at Warriner Mall included the mechanical bull and a carinval-like atomsphere, as well as tables of organizations with which students could get involved.

The event, sponsored by Minority Student Services, featured representatives from local businesses in the community and had various rides and activities and tables.

This year's Get Acquainted Day featured the first "Minority Student Services' Get Acquainted Day Olympics." The event featured a mechanical bull-riding competition, a jousting contest and a race around Warriner Mall that included different challenges for competitors to face.

The Olympics is expected to be brought back next year, said Sean Novak, assistant director of Minority Student Services.

"The fair has gone very well, and the turnout has been phenomenal," Novak said. "We've had everyone from freshmen to (University) President (Michael) Rao stop by."

Novak said the event is a great way for students to find others with similar interests.

"We feel it's a great way for students to find others with like-minded interests and promote diversity and open-mindedness," he said.

One group at Get Acquainted Day was His House Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational Christian church.

Katie Bennett, a Grand Blanc senior who attends His House said the church attended the event to promote its name around campus.

"Our purpose for being here is just to get our name out there," Bennet said. "We just want to draw people closer to God, and we feel this is a great event to reach out to new students who are looking for a church at CMU and to get God's name out there to those who haven't heard it."

Derek Collard, a Sterling Heights senior who attends His House said the church wants to reach the CMU community.

"We just want to show that we are committed to and involved with the community," Collard said. "There has been great interest from the community, and we have felt very well-received."

The event was well represented with some of the historically black fraternities and sororities on campus and included a "stroll-off" between Sigma Lambda Gamma and Sigma Lambda Beta.

Strolling is a ritual dance method that has roots in West African dance practices, Novak said.

"This event tends to draw students of color, and it helps them feel more connected with each other," Novak said. "But we want to stress that the event and Minority Student Services is here for all the student body and that everybody is welcome."