Dancers, popcorn and henna tattoos. It was all there as Central Campus became a hub of activity as students and clubs participated in Cyclone Market on Saturday.

More than 35 ISU student organizations attended the event, which took place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Students and members of the Ames community had the opportunity to attend the event and see what clubs had to offer, which ranged from carnival games to food to handmade products.

Attendees could “pie a politician in the face” by tossing a pie tin full of whip cream in the face of a member of the ISU Model United Nations as a donation to the club.

Other organizations, such as the Gaffers’ Guild, sold handmade items.

Five organizations, including Dance Marathon and Motion Sickness, also put on performances.

Kate Kelzenberg, a member of ISU Model United Nations, said the event is a great opportunity and the club would do it again next year.

Kelzenberg said she believes one aspect of Cyclone Market that benefits the student organizations is the fact that it’s free for them to have a stand and promote their club.

Cyclone Market was created by the Government of the Student Body in order to help student organizations receive funding. This year, funding was provided by GSB and the Inter-Residence Hall Association.

“Student Government decided to reach out and give back to the clubs,” said Danielle Nygard, the head of the GSB committee organizing the event. “Organizations were always asking us for money, so this is a way for us to give back.”

Student organizations used this opportunity to not only fundraise for their club, but to promote their organization and possibly recruit new members as well.

Kelzenberg said their organization gained a few new members from the event.

“I would say it’s more about promotion than the fundraising,” Kelzenberg said. “Unless you bring good stuff like food.”

Some organizations chose not to sell anything, including the Dance Marathon organization. The club had carnival games and T-shirts for free.

Caitie Hones, a member of Dance Marathon, said they were mostly just trying to get the word out about why students should join their club.

“We’re encouraging people to work to learn more later on in the game, but it’s still pretty relaxed,” Hones said.

Quinn Nordland, a member of Dance Marathon, said he thinks it’s good that organizations get to meet perspective students as well.

Nygard said she believe the event went fantastically.

“The organizations have been telling me they’ve enjoyed it,” Nygard said. “I feel like it’s just really great and the spirit of everyone is really high.”

Nygard said she estimated that about 1,500 people attended the event.

This will be the second Cyclone Market in ISU history, the first having taken place in September of last semester.

Nygard said the event was meant to have a farmers market feel to it. This was done by requiring the clubs to produce something

The idea for the event was originally created by the University Affairs Committee of GSB in the spring of 2014. With the cancellation of Veishea, Cyclone Market became the opportunity for student organizations to get the fundraising opportunity they had lost after the loss of Veishea Village, where most clubs gained a majority of their funds. 

Hones said she thinks Cyclone Market is a good replacement for Veishea Village.

“There’s obviously less people but I think it’s still good to have,” Hones said.

Nygard said it was not originally intended to be a replacement for Veishea Village.

“Before Veishea was even cancelled, we were planning this for the fall,” Nygard said. “We figured Veishea Village was in the spring, so this was a great opportunity for the fall.”

Nygard said with the cancellation of the event, the committee decided to hold Cyclone Market twice a year.

After the event, Nygard said the committee will decide on whether or not to hold the event once or twice a year. They will also make improvements where they are needed and work on better public relations.

Student organizations that wish to be involved in next year’s Cyclone Market can contact Danielle Nygard at [email protected].