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ENTERTAINMENT

The Norwich Guidon
Mar. 25, 2004

Low participation in campus events raises issues for the future

by Eric Beuregard
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Students on campus enjoy a variety of different things, but when it comes to big functional activities, it all comes down to is who stays and who goes.

Chan Stowell, the director of student activities, recreation, and intramural sports, explained that, "We don't have a problem with student activities functions. If you've been to any of our functions at all, you will see that on a Friday, Saturday, you usually only have standing room in Dole auditorium.

"Where the problem lies is big functions like Winter Carnival, and there are three reasons for this," he said.

Stowell said the "change of times," is a huge reason for big Norwich functions to be down in attendance this year.

"The second reason being the leave policy that came out of the commandant's office," he said. "Because they get general leave; when you are here for four to six weeks, what are you going to do? Leave or stay?" Stowell said.

"The third reason that still bothers me, and I don't know when we will get over this, is the misconception on who is sponsoring Winter Carnival weekend," Stowell said, adding that the Corps thinks that "it was a ball," that they get all dressed up in their uniforms and go, and the corps also has a misconception that the "civilians put on the ball." The civilians think, on the other hand, that it is put on by the Corps, he said of all the confusion.

"On all of the publicity that went out, [it was clear that] everyone was welcome: students, faculty, and staff," Stowell said. "The other big [misconception] is, who put on junior weekend besides the juniors, and can everyone go? Or is anyone going to go? So I think that someone needs to make a decision of what leave policy is going to be for the next weekend," said Stowell.

Stowell also said that in the past there was never a problem with attendance for junior weekend. "We don't have a major problem with all the activities on campus; I just think that it's select functions like Winter Carnival, right now, that we need to look close at, because we had some great comedians and some great shows in Dole auditorium."

The major problem here at Norwich is the fact that leave is issued to freshmen in the corps for big functional activities, and no one is willing to stay when they have the chance to get away for the weekend.

Sean Fitzpatrick, 18, a freshman from Madison, Conn., majoring in criminal justice, agrees with Stowell.

"I believe that when we get big functions, more students leave because the activities are not that great," Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick suggested that maybe attendance would increase if the entertainment where improved with "more comedians" and "got rid of the '80s Weekend."

"Other colleges got to have big-name bands, and I think we should have something like Godsmack here, instead of a no-name band," Fitzpatrick said. "Hopefully, student activities will improve in getting better participation from students and the talk of getting rid of Winter Carnival weekend, altogether."

"If the commandants took away leave, I think there would be more attendance, but I don't think that anyone would like the activity."

Tom Campbell, 19, a sophomore history major from Sarrell, Penn., said, "I think the Student Activities here are all right. I like how they do the movies, and they had some pretty good comedians."

A student survey may be the answer to improving the attendance of functions on campus, Campbell said, explaining that such a method would give students some say in things without complaining about them.

"I think if we get anything to improve, it should be attendance, and we should also strive for more bands," Campbell said. "It doesn't have to be a big band, just something like a Metallica cover band would be different."

Mark Neely, 20, a sophomore majoring in business management from Ft. Worth, Tex., said, "I think to improve big student functions, people need to get involved in activities and extracurricular stuff."

Neely said that these functions are great to "blow off some steam" and relax from the week of stress. "In all, it is a good way to get involved with other people that relate to you and things you're interested in."

"Overall, I believe the participation here at Norwich is not bad, considering that mainly all that attend are freshmen, because they have nothing to do," said 19-year-old Gregory Estevez. "For the upperclassmen, they can get off campus, so they are sometimes unlikely to participate for these functions."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.