John Jay College hosted the first day of the student Involvement Fair in Hound Square from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on September 3.

The Fair is meant to bring students together in hopes of building new connections and supporting their peers. Yet, it was an absolute nightmare to navigate. 

I decided to attend the Fair for the first time, but I could not even stick around for half an hour. 

From my first step off the escalator into Hound Square, the sound of the crowd was overwhelming. I immediately wanted to turn around and leave because there was no guidance or control over the massive student population with even greater foot traffic. 

Club booths and signs were out of sight—only backpacks. When I tried to make my way toward the tables, I was pushed like it was rush hour on the subway. I could not stop to ask questions to club leaders and it was impossible to catch the name of a club without being swarmed.

I walked out of the Fair disappointed that I could not see the clubs I planned to visit. So, I decided to return on day two of the Fair to see if it would be any different. 

The second day of the Involvement Fair was held on September 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. 

Day two was not as unbearable as day one, most likely because the first day of the Fair took place during community hour. 

Foot traffic surprisingly moved consistently, without the pushing or lack of space. This time, I was able to get close enough to scan QR codes this time and have some pleasant conversations. 

After experiencing such a huge contrast between the two days, I began to wonder how effective student really are when such a large population is present. 

Student involvement should not be on a first-come, first-served basis. There needs to be a more efficient way to engage students. 

Future events should be better structured to truly get students involved in the campus community.  

With more in-person classes being offered and such a enrollment numbers so high, the college should consider a broader range of options when hosting large events. 

Whether that means offering more time slots, using a larger location like the Jay Walk, or even requiring prior registration to help manage capacity, something needs to be done for the John Jay community to have a reliable and efficient experience at future events.