Do a quick Google search about the best parts of attending college. You are likely to find that one of the best parts of attending college is meeting new people who may end up becoming lifelong friends. In fact, students are told staying involved and making new friends are the most important things to do when first arriving at college.
Student organizations often facilitate many of these initial interactions. Sadly, COVID-19 has redefined what is possible and how this is done. Without in-person activities in the fall semester, many freshman and transfer students have been left with limited options for social interaction.
Director of Student Activities and Campus Recreation Lydia Pond encourages student organizations to use the spring semester like they usually would in the fall. For example, the Student Involvement Fair, usually held in the fall semester, introduces students to student organizations on campus.
Online versus in-person
The Weekend Programming Board (WPB) has learned how to deal with the challenges presented by the mitigation restrictions. They continued having fun events despite the challenges to keep students involved. It has been all about finding creative solutions.
Overall, the biggest challenge has been figuring out how to hold safe in-person events, as the online alternatives are usually not well attended. To address this issue, they have been holding events in larger spaces like Jefferson Lounge.
“Jefferson Lounge is nice because it has two doors … so we can have one door in and then the other door (students can) leave through,” said Jordan Miller, ’21, social media chair of WPB.
While online events may not work for every group and result in low attendance, other groups have had increased attendance. The 33rd Gospel Extravaganza, held on Feb. 26, had thousands of attendees. Broadcasting the concert online likely allowed attendees to tune in.
Brianna Avalos, ’21, co-president of the WPB, wants to continue hosting weekly events in-person.
“We want to allow people to still have a normal experience at our events, as much as we can,” Avalos said.
The methods of meeting people this year may be different, but that just makes things more interesting. Truly, there’s nothing like a little adversity to bringing people together. It may seem impossible to still have fun with all the recent changes. However, the WPB has been able to be creative and hold interactive events.
Moving forward
Policy updates that were sent out recently now allow for more student organizations to expand their in-person meetings. Notably, theatre and music groups can now meet and perform in limited capacities.
Pond said that it never hurts to ask NCC’s COVID-19 Institutional Response Team if your event is COVID-safe. Current restrictions may seem to create one singular path to in-person events. However, there may be alternate, unspecified routes that still fit within current regulations.
In the end, both Pond and Avalos want clubs to take full advantage of their allotted funds to bring students together. Staying involved is vital in college. After all, the people you meet today may be around for a lifetime.
