by Shannon Hutcherson
Assistant yeardisc editor
Every fall, Southeastern Oklahoma State University hosts a merchant fair that brings the school and the community together.
This year, the merchant fair was hosted in the Glen D. Johnson Student Union loft.
The purpose of this fair was to highlight some of the benefits and amenities the campus and community can provide to students at Southeastern, such as food, transit and campus involvement opportunities.
The fair contained booths from a multitude of community venues and campus organizations.
Among them were the campus Panhellenic Council, Nautilus Sport and Fitness, Student Publications, First United Bank, SE Bookstore, Taco Bell and Marcos Pizza, along with others.
Liz Howard, the director of Student Life, said that area merchants are selected through a list sent to her by the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce. This list contains businesses in the local community that could offer services to students on campus and is meant to be seen as a benefit to the Southeastern community.
Student Organizations had to fill out a form to reserve a table at the event.
Staff photos by Shannon Hutcherson
Debra Fullenchek from Southeastern’s Counseling Center stands in front of a board that explains to students the health and counseling services that Southeastern offers to its students.
Ed Furst (center) waves students over to his booth for Student Support Services. Student Support Services offers programs that foster success to first generation and low-income students at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Tammy Johnson (front left) and Barbara Reeves (back left) discuss the Texoma Area Paratransit System, also called TAPS, with Roxanne Bell (front right) and Alisha Cooper (back right). TAPS offers trips across the Texas-Oklahoma state line with a stop at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University campus. More information can be found at goredriver.com.
At the merchant fair hosted by Southeastern, vendors and students interact and discuss services that are available to students in both the campus and Durant communities.