Despite the decrease in attendance for ClubFest on Wednesday, the event was still deemed a success.

More than 1,000 fewer students attended the event this year than last year, said Laura Bestler-Wilcox, assistant director of student activities.

Still, Bestler-Wilcox said she estimated more than 3,000 students had passed through the Memorial Union with ClubFest.

“We are down from where we’ve been in the past, and one would assume that’s to do with the tragedy,” she said. “We’re really excited to have everybody who did come.”

Student clubs participating in ClubFest said they did not feel they were affected by the drop in attendance.

“There’s been a constant flow of people coming to our booth,” said Josh Sponheim, treasurer of the ISU Collegiate FFA. “I’ve spoken with maybe 100 [students].”

Jay Bierstedt, president of the ISU Pagan Club, said he didn’t see a change in attendance at his club’s table, either.

“We’ve gotten quite a few people to take brochures,” said Bierstedt, sophomore in electrical engineering. “[The attendance] is about what we expected.”

Wes Draughn, president of the Men’s Volleyball Club, said he thought fewer students were seeing his booth, but he said the decrease was due to his location in the Campanile Room.

“More students are going through the [Great Hall], so if they could figure out a way to increase the numbers of people walking through here, that would be better,” said Draughn, junior in industrial engineering.

While at a normal ClubFest, the aisles would have been packed, Bestler-Wilcox said, 156 clubs still were registered for the event.

Only a few students were affected by missing clubs.

“None of the clubs I came to see were here,” said Traci Richardson, sophomore in exercise and sport science.

Other students were happy with the clubs they found.

“There’s a diverse variety of clubs,” said Autumn Downs, freshman in communication studies. “There’s something for everybody.”

Sponheim, sophomore in agricultural studies, said he is confident the ISU Collegiate FFA will be successful at gaining new students through ClubFest and the Freshman/Transfer Student barbecue held for agriculture students at the beginning of the year.

“The barbecue is [restricted] to ag students, but [ClubFest] exposes us to a broad spectrum of students from every area of the college,” he said.

“We should get about a dozen members through ClubFest,” Sponheim said.

Bierstedt said he is optimistic about an increase in membership to the Pagan Club as well.

“If everyone who signs up attends, we’ll [increase club size by] 30 to 40 percent,” he said.

Bestler-Wilcox said the 2001 ClubFest was a success.

“The biggest goal [of ClubFest] is the opportunity to see different clubs,” she said. “We have a very diverse representation. That’s very good.”