Alcalá Bazaar back indoors

Student organizations and potential members alike adapt to return to UC Forums, facing new difficulties

Emma Goodman-Fish / Asst. Feature Editor / The USD Vista

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, over 200 tables were arranged in tight rows in the University Center Forums, each with a different display and message. Voices filled the crowded room as each club shared what they have to offer. The threat of potential rain loomed outside. 

This was the scene at the Alcalá Bazaar this past week at the University of San Diego. The Alcalá Bazaar is held at the start of each semester and is an opportunity for clubs, organizations, and departments on campus to greet students and share involvement experiences and opportunities. 

Historically, the spring semester Alcalá Bazaar is an indoor event, with last year’s spring fair debuting a Colachis Plaza Alcalá Bazaar. However, after one short year, the Alcalá Bazaar is back in the University Center Forums due to unforeseen weather conditions– a turn of events disgruntling club members and inquisitive students alike. 

“It feels so crowded and hot indoors, especially during the rushes,” sophomore Mariana Jones from the Acapella Club noted of the location change. Other students agreed that an indoor Alcalá Bazaar made it difficult to talk to others and the chaos of it all was overwhelming. 

With the clubs positioned so closely together in the tight indoor venue, students found that communication between clubs and potential members became increasingly difficult due to rising noise levels. Another difficulty campus organizations faced was a new table configuration. Jones observed students trying to navigate the Bazaar. 

“Inside we are grouped alphabetically, which makes it hard because usually, when we are outside, we are grouped by club type,” Jones said. “It’s harder for people to find what they want.” 

Though the location this year may have hindered the execution of the Alcalá Bazaar, club leaders remarked that the event is and consistently has been very beneficial to students. 

“The Alcalá Bazaar is how I found all of my clubs,” sophomore Amaia Robinson-Compton of the Medical Brigades Club said. “All the clubs together also gives a sense of community.” 

The community and easy access to all the clubs in one place was something many students appreciated and made the Bazaar a valuable event for many of them. On a college campus, it can be difficult to find activities to get involved in, especially when organizations meet at different times and in places all across campus. The Alcalá Bazaar gives the opportunity to access everything at once, and students can simply put their name down to become more involved. 

Whether students end up following-up after the Bazaar, they still have had the chance to feel like they are getting involved. At the Bazaar, students can truly experience each organization or club without having to attend a single club meeting or social event. 

Sophomore Mark Bautista of the Filipino Ugnayan Student Union shared his experience at the Bazaar. 

“It’s the only time clubs can all show who we are and what we do,” Bautista said.

However, he also noted the difficulties of this year’s set-up and its impact on the purpose of the Bazaar. 

“The Alcalá Bazaar is a lot more crowded inside,” Bautista remarked. “Everyone is so close together and it is so hard to navigate.” 

The idea of searching hundreds of tables to find the perfect club for you may be an overwhelming prospect. However, the connection and sense of belonging that accompany finding one’s home away from home can be an untradeable feeling. The Alcalá Bazaar is a consistently successful event in matching students based on their passions and values and will continue to act as such for students in the USD community for years to come.