Allendale Campus once again filled with Lakers, energy

By the time Josh Eapen arrived at the Fieldhouse August 19, his smartwatch showed he walked 16,000 steps that day.

It was all good, though, according to Eapen, a first-year, first-generation student from Troy, who spent most of his move-in day with members from the Asian Student Orientation program.

Nearly 500 students participated in five affinity student orientation programs. Black Excellence, Asian Student Orientation, Laker Familia and Native American Maajtaadaa! are all sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Military and Veteran Student Orientation is sponsored by the Secchia Military and Veterans Resource Center.

"The ASO crew has been amazing," Eapen said. "It's clear to me that this is a community that clearly cares about students."

When Eapen arrived at the Fieldhouse, the Student Organization Fair was underway. The evening event presented opportunities for organizations to recruit new members and, for students like Lucero Arizaga, to give back.

Arizaga is a third-year student with a legal studies major. During morning move-in, Arizaga assisted Laker Familia students with directions and at the Fieldhouse event she recruited students to a new organization she established: Monacas-Ballet Folklorico, which will promote traditional Mexican dances.

"When I moved in my first year, students and staff from Laker Familia helped me, so now I'm stepping into that role," Arizaga said.