Free food and information on student organizations was provided at the Duck Pond on Thursday during Student Organization Day.
The Christian Student Center, Medieval Studies Student Association, Knit Knack and the Queer Straight Alliance were among the many groups represented.
The Christian Student Center grabbed some attention with the display of two large signs that read "FREE root BEER."
Member Chase Moss said the signs worked almost as intended.
"We're getting weird looks because of what our signs say, especially when people find out what our organization is actually all about," he said.
He said the organization serves as a place where students can go to explore their Christian beliefs.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"We try to appeal to the student population and where they're at right now," Moss said. "We are just here now getting to know people, and we are helping to form relationships amongst students with these beliefs."
Betty Gatton of the Medieval Studies Student Association said her organization holds a colloquium every semester where students can present papers.
"Last semester, we had an academic talk on the origin of dragons," Gatton said. "Some professors are doing research, and if they have time, we have them speak to students. Overall, we're here for students majoring in or just interested in medieval studies."
Rebecca Conrad of Knit Knack said her organization is the token knitting circle on campus.
"We crochet and sew right here on campus in the SUB," she said. "We also focus on doing philanthropy with the things that we make."
She said the group has donated many things to a variety of organizations.
"We try to donate our stuff to all different kinds of causes - we donated to refugees, and we've gone over to the Children's Hospital and taught the kids how to make things using a loom," she said. "Next, we are planning to do Project Linus, where we'll make blankets to give to the kids in the Children's Hospital that have been in there for a long time so that they have something to brighten their day."
Andrew Turner, chair of the Queer Straight Alliance at UNM, said his group is on campus as a support group and social network for students.
"We're here to be an organization that is gay-friendly and provide support in case something happens with family," he said. "We have educational resources like magazines that are gay-oriented and can be lent out to UNM students and focus on issues that may affect gays in New Mexico."
Turner said the organization will provide activities and education this semester.
"As students, we have way too much stuff going on, and I want to provide education about our cause and show that being gay is not a horrible thing, which is something some people think," he said. "We'll probably try to do workshops and do things for our members. We're here to support students, and that's always a good thing for them to have."
