Club day

Held every year, the Zayed University event packed a lot of fun into one day

I magine 22 clubs celebrating the same day - it was Club Day, the student carnival at the Zayed University Dubai campus.

Held recently, the event was an entertaining mix of fashion shows, Arabic poetry readings, shop displays, games, beauty parlors and other forms of entertainment.

"The university gives high priority to the students' activities and skills. Such extra-curricular activities develop their personalities, capabilities and communication skills in society," said Dr Hanif Hassan, Vice-President of Zayed University.

The carnival was coordinated by the student council.
"The event was spectacular. A lot of people attended and it was an event I hope will be repeated again," said a student.

The day's highlights were an Arabic poetry reading session by Mohammad Bin Al Noh Al Minhali and Majid Sultan Al Khateri and an Indian fashion show staged in the auditorium. Saris and other traditional garments were displayed.

Nada Mohammad Al Masri was, however, amazed by a chess champion with visual disability whom no one could beat. He had been invited by the Education Club.

"It was the first time I ever saw something like this," said Nada, the mother of a student.

A photography exhibition was also part of the carnival. Illumination by May Al Mezaina, a student from Zayed University, was highly appreciated by visitors. May is a former winner of the Mercato mall's photography competition.

"I got a lot of positive feedback," said May, a student of communication and media sciences. "Overall it was fine. I wish there was more attendance from students of our university and more variety in the activities. We pulled this off in a very short time."

Club Day was an occasion for ZU students to display the six qualities that the university emphasises.

These include leadership, self confidence, information literacy and communication, information technology and team work.

The faculty was also out in full strength. Many professors were seen with groups of students sharing their experiences.

Students who had completed their internship and are due to graduate next month, could be seen listening closely.

The Radio Club provided the background score for the day-long event. "We took our stand by the stage and did some DJing," said Farah Al Sharid, president of the Radio Club. "The day was amazing. We all loved it."

What students had to say
"This year's Club Day was very different from the previous years. The activities were different. I feel that they broke the routine and I really enjoyed that. I especially enjoyed what the Skills Club -
a club I am enrolled in - did with the personality quizzes," said Asma Al Nasiri, a student of social and behavioural sciences at Zayed University.

"I feel the only thing which would have made the carnival better was the decoration and organisation. It might have been due to the lack of time or something, but I am sure it will be even better next year."

Aisha Mohammad Al Hajiri, a student of family sciences at ZU, also felt this year's Club Day was different. A member of the Creativity Club, she felt the event would have benefited from a lot more
of cultural displays.

"For example, the Indian fashion show could have been accompanied by an Arabic fashion show," she said. "On the other hand, it was very big. A lot of girls enjoyed the water games.

Eman Al Madani, a student of environmental health at ZU, said she learned a lot about time management. "We were more than 20 clubs in one area. But we were able to accomplish many things in a very limited time."

"I believe we can get more creative than this," said Khowla Ebrahim Al Yassi, a student of social behavioural sciences at ZU.

The writer is a communication and media sciences student at Zayed University