After taking his eighth pie in the face that day, Tim Jun, a third-year mechanical engineering student, looked up with a smile and summarized how his group’s fundraiser was going.

“Low-key really well,” he said. “I’ve been pied eight times now.”

Jun’s fundraiser was one of a number hosted on Bruin Walk, a campus thoroughfare accessed by thousands of students daily. According to the UCLA Events Office website, registered campus organizations are allowed to advertise meetings and events on Bruin Walk every day, though they need a permit to sell food.

Jun said his fundraiser was being held by Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity whose pledges were raising money for the group’s service projects – which include hosting pet adoptions and helping organizations like Meals on Wheels and LA Cancer Challenge – by offering students the opportunity to pay to throw a pie at them.

He added that he found his group’s collective enthusiasm to be their most effective draw when soliciting on Bruin Walk.

“As long as we have our own high energy, then it’s easier to attract a crowd,” he said.

On the other hand, Victor Chinedu, a fourth-year neuroscience student, said he and his friends took a different approach while selling their clothes on Bruin Walk.

“Contrary to belief, actively just chilling and not trying to approach people works more for something like this,” he said. “If someone actually wants to buy something, they’ll actually take their time and look through the clothes.”

Chinedu said his clothing stand was inspired by his and his friends’ love of thrifting, adding that they will donate a portion of their earnings to a Nigerian orphanage, Dorian Homes.

Jada Gibson, a second-year gender studies and political science student, said she tabled on Bruin Walk to advertise her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha’s voting drive. She added that her sorority’s mission motivated her to reach out to strangers.

“We were the very first Black lettered Greek organization for college-educated Black women,” she said. “We were the first one established in 1908.”

Gibson said Alpha Kappa Alpha holds various events to uplift the community, including mindfulness workshops, journaling events and workshops on financial wellness and buying a house. She also said she enjoyed tabling on Bruin Walk because it gave her an opportunity to speak with people and spread awareness for the voting drive.

She added that the other campus organizations on Bruin Walk were supportive of her group’s efforts, mentioning that another sorority had come over and registered to vote.

However, Kai Kala, a second-year music industry student, said he found marketing his new Spotify single on Bruin Walk to be more challenging.

“Last time, (there was) heavy competition with people next to me,” he said. “As people were coming to talk to me, they (the other organizations) were trying to steal them.”

Kala said canvassing on Bruin Walk was a good way to meet people whom he might not be exposed to otherwise, but added that he would probably try to find a different spot on campus with less competition to advertise in the future.

Nick Mouchawar, a second-year psychobiology student, said he was advertising for UniCamp, a nonprofit organization that hosts a summer camp in Camp River Glen for underprivileged kids.

Mouchawar said his most effective strategy for grabbing attention on Bruin Walk is complimenting people or commenting on their clothing when trying to get their attention. He added that one of his favorite moments while advertising was when he called out, “Mr. Kirkland!” to someone wearing a Kirkland sweater, who then came over to take a flyer.

Yareni Lopez, a fourth-year psychology student, who was also tabling for UniCamp, added that being genuine led her to her most successful interactions.

“Commenting on their outfit or something like the thing you genuinely like about them, or just saying something funny like ‘If you crack a smile, I’ll give you a flyer,’” she said.

Mouchawar added that everyone faces rejection on Bruin Walk. He said even giving someone a flyer with the knowledge that they will throw it away is a successful interaction, as long as he gives the flyer away. When searching for reasons to stay motivated, Mouchawar said he tries to focus on reaching just one person who could possibly join.

“That one can make a world of a difference – they can be a counselor to eight children. They could actually change their lives,” he said. “If you really think about it like that, it’s a great reason.”