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Club Carnival practically perfect
by Amber Vega, staff writer
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The 2003 HPU annual Club Carnival kicked off in nearly perfect
weather on the downtown campus Sept. 12, with live music performances
by HPU cheerleaders and band, 15 outside vendors, and more
than 55 clubs participating.
Heather Hubbard, director of Student Life and organizer of the
carnival, said that it is a “Great day to highlight HPU
and what we do.” |
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And what does HPU do? Variety, variety, variety was the clear
theme of Club Carnival 2003. It was obvious that not only is
the student body multiethnic, but the activities offered at
HPU are just as diverse.
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The clubs are organized into four categories: academic and
professional, cultural and religious, special interest, and
activity clubs. Students interested in a career that has to
do with medicine could shuffle their way to the Pre-med Society
booth and find a plethora of volunteer opportunities with local
hospitals. Then just two feet away, students could also sign
up for a more cultural experience through dance and song with
the United Samoan Organization.
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Students concerned about the environment and the conservation
of Hawai‘i’s oceans could team up with the Dive
Club and its poetic motto—“We take only pictures
and leave only bubbles”—while also becoming a certified
diver. For students who just love to get down and boogie, the
Hibiscus Social Dance Club booth was only a hop, skip, and
twirl away. Even outside vendors such as the lei booth, which
was not a school organization but rather a reality TV show
audition, added to the flavor of Club Carnival.
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| Yet variety was not the only factor
in determining Club Carnival success. Education and motivation
were also defining elements. With more than 75 clubs available
at HPU, all of whom are active in community service activities,
Club Carnival is a useful tool in recruiting members and offering
support for students. Sima Fine, president of the United Samoan
Organization with its 60-70 members, stated that Club Carnival
was their way of getting the word out to the student body. Craig
Tabag a junior at HPU and member of the Christian Fellowship
Club for three years also stated that most of its members actually
sign up during the event. Over and over, each booth represented,
viewed Club Carnival as a great tactic for getting students involved
with outside activities and spreading awareness for their particular
organization. |
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With Fort Street Mall cluttered by booths,
faculty, and students alike, it was a great way to start off
the 2003 fall semester with promising opportunities offered
for the upcoming year. School spirit was strongly demonstrated
by the HPU Cheerleaders and Pep Squad along with performances
by the Band and Dance Team. Radio station Hot 93.9 came down
to offer prizes and promote parties to the youthful and exuberant
crowd. Later in the day, live Hawaiian music by Ernie Cruz
and his band added to the classic island styling.
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| Froylan Fernandes, a senior, who joined
about 12 clubs that day, including the Computer Club, Hiking
Club, and Catholic Campus Ministry Club, said that it was his
last year and he wanted to make the most of it. Club Carnival
definitely helped him on his way as it did many HPU students. |
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