Students will form pairs and then be prompted with a fun or silly question to help get the conversation started. They will then have five minutes to share their responses before moving on to a different partner.
Laura Wilkinson
Special to Mustang News
“Meet a Mustang” is the first ASI-sponsored mixer of its kind.
Cal Poly Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) will be holding a 3-hour meet-and-greet in the Julian A. McPhee University Union on Feb. 7, in an effort to help students break out of their shells and make new connections.
According to special events student assistant Arin Miller, students will form pairs and then be prompted with a fun or silly question to help get the conversation started. They will then have five minutes to share their responses before moving on to a different partner.
“Yes, it is set up like speed dating,” Miller said. “But there is no expectation that romance will occur. The spirit of the event is purely social, and an opportunity for people to make new friends.”
For soil science senior Jason DeMoss, the effort by ASI feels lost.
“I don’t think older college students are as interested in meeting new people because they have their cliques,” DeMoss said. “Like if you joined a frat as an underclassman, you probably hang out with your brothers more, or for me, I’m getting into my upper division classes, so now I hang out more with people in my department.”
He also pointed out that if ASI is trying to reach those who don’t normally attend social events, they might be going about it the wrong way.
“If people go to this speed dating thing, those are the people that don’t have a problem getting out of their comfort zone to do something that they normally wouldn’t do,” DeMoss said.
Architecture freshman Erica Snyder lives in the connections-themed residence hall, so she hasn’t had any problems meeting new people, she said.
“I can see how it would be beneficial to students who don’t have a lot of social opportunities,” Snyder said. “I personally wouldn’t go alone, because it could get awkward.”
The event is free for all students with a Cal Poly ID. Light refreshments will be offered, and live music is also planned for the event.
More details can be found on the ASI event page.