CSC provides opportunities for student involvement

What do musical chairs, video game tournaments, Spice Up Your Ramen, board game nights, Oye! Que Pasa?, Dining in the Dark, Book Nerd Triathlon, and a Pinterest party all have in common? They are all RLA and The Pit events hosted on CSC’s campus.

CSC is a small school in a small town. Students often complain there is nothing to do. Many believe the only events worth attending are large dances filled with sweaty dancers, loud music, and bright, flashing lights. Although these events are popular, some students want to avoid large crowds. They would rather spend time quietly with a few friends, or alone, and believe no social events are appealing. They do not seek out social opportunities and end up spending their free time sitting in their dorm rooms.

“It is hard for someone to meet new people at events. Everyone there is already with their friend groups, and it can be awkward,” Brandy Bowers, 21, junior of Interior, South Dakota, said.

Bowers transferred to CSC three semesters ago. She attended her first RLA event, the Pinterest party, in October. In a previous interview, Bowers said she enjoyed the event. However, when asked later she says the few students in attendance were not really talking. She would like to attend more events but as an off-campus student, she does not see many advertisements.

Jordan Zeiler, 21, junior of Holyoke, Colorado, says she has never really been “an event person.”

Now an off-campus student, Zeiler said when she lived on campus she attended a few events including rug decorating and the foam dance. She enjoys small events over large dances and attended floor events only because she knew other people attending.

Zeiler suggests advertising off-campus may help draw a larger crowd. She does not solely blame event planners for low participation. She believes it is a student’s responsibility to seek out and enjoy events.

“RAs are required to put on a certain number of events, so maybe residents should be required to attend at least three. They are paying for it in student fees,” Zeiler said.

Off-campus students are not the only ones that miss out on campus events. On-campus students also suggest the need for more advertising.

“Most of the time I hear about the event five minutes before,” Ashley Gonzales, 19, sophomore of Gering, said. “The ones I’ve been to have been ones that my friend has planned because she is an RA.”

Gonzales, who lives on-campus, says she can be shy, but feels comfortable at the events she attends.

“I’ve met a lot of people at events,” Gonzales said, but she likely would not have attended if her friend were not the event planner.

The Pit and RLA staffs realize there are problems with events, and through evaluation and improvement, they try to reach various students.

Lane Swedberg, 21, senior of North Platte, has spent five semesters as an RA. Over the years, Swedberg has planned several events. RAs must plan five events each semester.

He describes them as two large “late night” events that can be planned with another RA, two “medium” events, and one floor program.

One of the five events must be diversity related, promoting anything from religious diversity, culture, and even sexual orientation. Swedberg enjoys the diversity events the most because they help students experience something out of the ordinary.

Many small events lack student involvement, Swedberg says. As an RA, he often hears the complaint that students are bored, but few attend events.

“With all the events we try to reach out to a different audience,” Swedberg said. “We know not every student will show up, but that is why we have diverse events.”

Swedberg is involved in several campus organizations, and enjoys being a social person. For students that are afraid to branch out, his advice is to just, “get out, and get involved to meet new people.”

The Pit Manager Jennie Robbins, 21, senior of Mitchell, organizes and plans the Late Night at The Pit events. Employees have pre-semester brainstorming sessions where they evaluate previous events and new ideas, hoping to engage a wide audience.

“We do interact regularly with students and we get to hear their input through regular conversation,” Robbins said.

Robbins listed just a few small events: musical chairs, pool, Ping-Pong, and video game tournaments that are tailored toward a smaller crowd.

“One of the big ways we try to reach out is to host quite a few smaller events.  When the students know that they are smaller, they tend to be more willing to come out,” Robbins said.

Robbins is not only The Pit manager. She currently works as an Admissions Ambassador and was formerly an RA. However, she said she was not always comfortable being social.

“My freshman year I was terrible. I never made an effort to get out and experience campus,” Robbins said. “I think that the events on-campus are really what made me reach out and meet new people.”

“Social isolation is the number one enemy of good mental health,” Jerry D. Cassiday, CSC student health counselor said. “Another way to slice that is to talk about community and to be involved with other people. There are different experiences that we can learn from each other.”

For students that are shy or afraid of branching out, Cassiday encourages students to go out of their comfort zones and “take the dare.”

 “Students, especially residential students, are paying a lot of money to come to college and get the college experience. They don’t get that by sitting alone or with just a small group of friends in their rooms all the time,” Cassiday said.

Cassiday wants students struggling with social issues to be aware of the counseling and disability services he offers. His office is located in Crites Hall 011.

Some students are afraid of social situations, worried about not meeting people or feeling awkward. They miss the potential enjoyment and friendships that spawn from attending events. For students who struggle with making friends, take Cassiday’s advice and branch out of your comfort zone. Event coordinators work hard for student events, but are discouraged when students do not participate. Students will get what they put into their social lives. Event planners should take student advice. Encourage student conversation and help shy students feel included. Improved advertising was suggested multiple times by on and off campus students.

Looking for something to do? The Pit is hosting The Voice competition 8 p.m., today in the Student Center Ballroom. Take advantage of the events on campus, and jump-start a new social lifestyle.