By CANDACE MIERS

clm049@latech.edu

 

Discovering a definite sense of belonging is possible for the 12,000 plus students who walk the campus grounds every day.

For the first time at Tech, the Union Board, along with the Student Government Association, sponsored Fall Fling.

“This was a great day for the entire school because numerous organizations came out and promoted themselves while students had the opportunity to have fun and eat for free,” Matt Magnuson, coordinator of Fall Fling for Union Board and a senior biomedical engineering major, said.

Promoting unity through organizational awareness was the basic theme of Fall Fling, Magnuson said.

“There are over 130 organizations at Tech, leaving tons of places for everyone to fit in and find their niche,” Magnuson said.

Over 30 of those organizations showed up to Centennial Plaza between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., seated behind their displays.

“This was an excellent occasion and an incredible idea to get different organizations exposure to students,” Magnuson said.

Even if students did not want to get involved at the unity booths, they could partake in the free food, which included hot dogs, barbeque brisket, chips, watermelon, baked beans and plenty of different cold beverages.

Cold drinks and hot weather set the scene for Fall Fling.

Temperatures, soaring to 101 degrees with a heat index of 104, did not slow the flow of thousands of students weaving in and out of Centennial Plaza.

“The laser tag thing was so hot, but I still had a great time acting like a kid,” Steven Shuff, a freshman business major, said.

Students joined in games of laser tag in a 50 by 25 foot enclosed arena, fueled by music oozing from the clock tower overhead, while others climbed the inflatable rock wall.

Laura Clark, a Union Board member and a junior political science major, said, “This event was great not only for freshmen but also for upperclassmen to reunite with friends and climb the rock wall, which I was awesome at.”

Fall Fling did not end at 3 p.m. The event came to a close with guest motivational speaker, Joe Martin.

Martin is an award-winning speaker, nominated as Campus Activities Magazine's "2003 Speaker of the Year” and the APCA's "1999 Campus Speaker of the Year." 

Martin is also a published author of several books, a media personality, professor and successful business owner.

Magnuson said the speaker was, by far, his favorite part of Fall Fling.

“Joe is such a master of words,” Magnuson said. “His messages come with such passion that they have the power to change people’s lives for the better.”

Martin spoke on topics such as how to cure everyday apathy, being accountable, gaining success in life and how to use the gift of leadership in a positive way.

“This man just touches you with his passion in such a way that it’s hard to explain the messages by talking — they have to be conveyed through experience,” Magnuson said.

From unity organizations to powerful guest speakers, Fall Fling made its mark in Tech’s history.

Magnuson said, “I think this entire event was an awesome idea and all I can hope is for this to become an annual occurrence.”