The Fletcher School

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.

Although there were quite a few Fletcher Weddings the past spring and summer (2002), this article is about a different aspect of Fletcher life. The traditional wedding rhyme is descriptive of the Fletcher Student Groups Fair held on Friday, September 06, 2002. Though mainly targeting new students, the Fair attracted Fletcher Community members of all ages. For some, it presented an excuse to take a break from their daily Fletcher chores while for others it was an exciting family event.

Of course every imaginable trick in the sales and marketing field had to be employed to attract new recruits including the classical strategy of having attractive salespeople manage the group stands. This seemed to work well for the Latin America group as three beautiful and personable ladies manning (or should we say ‘womanning') their stand managed to keep a steady crowd around their table. Appealing to people’s interests in the various cultures and regions of the world was another popular strategy for who could resist the colorful displays of the East Asia Study Table (EAST), China Club and the Africa Student Group. Yet for others it was the wacky sense of adventure and fun that did it. The WILD crew with their snazzy headgears looked like actresses in a ‘Safari’ movie and no doubt this wetted the appetite of incoming students as what they could expect from WILD. In keeping with the sense of fun were ‘hobby clubs’ such as Fletcher Soccer and “The Ambassacords” – our Fletcher songbirds.

Lest one is misled to think Fletcher Groups are all about fun and play, several clubs presented strategic opportunities for serious Fletcher students with little time for play. These included clubs such as the International Communications Group, The Diplomacy Club, Forum on Refugees and Migration, International Consulting Club, International Law Group and International Negotiations and Conflict Resolution Group. These academic clubs helped bring a doze of academic reality in the wild, exciting and culture rich mood of the fair.

With such a wide range of club appetites catered for, it was amusing to watch first years trying to make up their minds on what to pick from the Student Group buffet table; a mission second only to the mind boggling task of picking courses at Fletcher. Clever first years probably signed up for all the groups they were interested in only to choose those which they would actively participate in later in the semester after becoming more familiar with the groups activities. ‘Wiser’ second years on the other hand had the advantage of experiencing the hectic Fletcher Schedule and therefore saw the logic of picking groups that would be helpful with their thesis or those, like WILD, provide a vital stress release valve.

So where does the article's title come in?? Something Old: The old student groups still around. The ‘old’ Fletcher community knows this means another series of the tantalizing “Fiesta Latino”, enthralling “Asia Night”, invigorating “Shangilia Africa (Night)”, and romantic “Diplomats Ball”. These four Fletcher festive events are a must-attend. Something New: The new clubs of course. It will be interesting to see what the ‘Fletcher Nomads’ which targets Fletcher globetrotters has in store for us. Something Borrowed: Well, all that Cultural décor must have come from somewhere! Something Blue: Other than the Ambassacord’s poster, the feeling some second years got when they watched their video performances in last years Africa and Asia Nights.
 

Here is a list of Student Organizations at Fletcher.