By Sarah Long
MSU may be small, but the university does its best to provide fun activities for students to get involved with…or does it?
The University Programming Board (UPB) spends large amounts of money every semester in an effort to encourage students to become more involved on campus, but find a lack of participants when hosting activities.
The same holds true for the Office of Student Development and Orientation.
Both offices offer a multitude of activities throughout the year in an effort to make MSU a little livelier, yet turn out continues to be less than impressive.
But it’s not just UPB and Student Development who have a hard time bringing out crowds.
So what is the deal?
Why can’t MSU get students to come out to events and get more involved?
Students aren’t doing anything; they are passing on everything from theatre performances, sporting events, fundraisers and even skipping out on free food.
MSU students aren’t getting involved and my question is this:
“Why?!”
On a small campus, where everyone knows everyone, how hard is it to get a group of friends together and go to a basketball game or hit up a bingo game for a change to win some sweet prizes?
Time and time again these efforts seem to fall flat.
MSU’s rival Tarleton is comparable in size to MSU yet the students there are more known for their obnoxious school pride. Tarleton students bleed purple until they die and let everyone they meet know it.
Why can’t we have half of that enthusiasm at MSU?
The closest thing to involvement on campus is Greek life.
They do a great job mingling among the other sororities and fraternities, but still struggle to get involved in other avenues around campus.
According to Student Development, there are 113 registered student organizations on campus, yet the number of active members is only a small portion in each of those organizations.
We have all heard the statement,
“90% of the work is done by 10% of the people.”
Those involved in planning and organization know this to be true.
This week, Friday April 20, the fourth annual MSU Relay for Life will be in the quad from 7PM to 7AM.
Out of the 113-registered student organizations on campus, only 16 teams are participating in the event.
Based on my logic, this got me wondering.
Are we all too taxed to really commit to anything?
Perhaps there are too many options and instead of choosing one, many choose none.
College is about meeting new people and being involved, yet at MSU we stick to our own, no matter if it involves a sports team, a hall in our dorm, a fraternity or sorority, we are simply not branching out.
We tend to get familiar with a certain group of people and refuse to open up and meet new ones.
What would it take to get students to get involved?
Mandatory kickball every Friday?
Or are we too divided to get along?
What people don’t understand is they are paying for these activities every semester: the fees are wrapped up in our tuition.
The Artist Lecture Series spends thousands of dollars every semester to bring in professionals who the university thinks will be interesting, yet students hardly ever get the opportunity to see them.
Why?
The tickets are being sold out by community members.
Why can’t we get a ticket to a speaker our fees are paying for?
I have been at MSU since 2008 and every year during finals frenzy you can guess the lineup:
The C list comedian they bring in every year
Or maybe the magician who is mediocre at best.
Students have become bored with what the university has to offer.
The activities have become predictable and stale.
Based on a divided campus and students uninterested in activities, the problem with low to no involvement will continue.
If the administration doesn’t get a handle on the lack of interest and figure out how to better appeal to students, the future of the university and enrollment, will too, be affected.
But, to be honest, this problem really isn’t one that the university administration can fully control.
We are the ones who make the choice to not attend.
We are the ones who make the choice that we are too busy or the events are not worthy of our precious time.
We complain that there is “nothing to do” here, yet suggestions are not made toward any type of solution.
What is it that students want to do on campus? What kinds of activities and events would MSU students be interested in?
Sure, we’re busy. But if we’re not busy enough to complain about not having anything to do, it’s quite possible that we have the time to come up with some great group events for the campus to promote.
It’s not all up to them.
We are the ones paying the tuition and wanting things to do. We need to make the effort and find the motivation to do something about it.
The first thing? Start attending.
The Solution is right under your Nose • Apr 25, 2012 at 8:48 PM
There is only one thing all events at MSU needs to make them a success – FLOWERS! If UPB would just spend $50000 a year placing flowers across the stage at Akin, hand them out at basketball games, or plaster them to the walls of the student center, I’m sure you all would be much happier and encouraged to participate! Then you could write up another story patting yourselves on the back and what a great idea it was and all is well!
Johnny • Apr 25, 2012 at 2:04 PM
This article is an opinion piece and I understand that gives you some lee-way. But what is your thesis? Who is to blame for low turn out at MSU events? Is it the Apathetic students, or the “C-list” comedians that the Office of student development brings? The article isn’t clear about who’s fault it its.
Oh and FYI: Any student who wants to go to an artist-lecture event is never refused because of community purchases. There are two separate ticket pools
The Wichitan is of poor quality • Apr 24, 2012 at 11:55 PM
The Wichitan continues to disappoint. It seems like all they ever do is run their mouths on minority opinions with a complete lack of research or facts. Also, who proofreads the Wichitan? I didn’t notice any in this article but it’s ridiculous how many typos and straight up errors there are in their articles.
speak fairly • Apr 22, 2012 at 11:29 PM
“They do a great job mingling among the other sororities and fraternities, but still struggle to get involved in other avenues around campus”
The Wichitan obviously needs to start fact checking before bold statements like this are made. In many, if not all Greek organizations, members are required to be an active member of another organization on campus. There are members, and leaders in many other organizations including SGA, college republicans, and mustang maniacs. They also hold many philanthropic events around campus and the community open to ALL people and not just other Greeks.
Also, on the front page of the Wichitan, the picture of two women participating in the great day of service were taken of Greeks. Yes, it was apart of Greek Week but does that mean any less because people happened to have fun while continuously spending an entire week dedicated to philanthropy? So let’s not continuously focus on trying to put down the Greek community. Maybe if more of the campus population were part of this community there would be an overall rise in campus involvement.
Touché • Apr 22, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Touché.
Other half of the story • Apr 22, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Counter argument to your primary example:
Greek chapters host philanthropic events throughout the semester for other causes that don’t have anything to do with a prize, yet most of the time it is other Greeks that help participate in them not other student organizations. Instead of focusing on the event agenda of Greek Life, try promoting ALL student organizations to participate in events.
Get it straight. • Apr 22, 2012 at 9:00 PM
If this is the type of writting the Mass communication department is producing perhaps MSU should spend more money on education and less on activities that students don’t attend anyway. Sarah I am absolutely appalled that you would make such a statement about Greek life. Clearly you haven’t interviewed anyone from any Greek organization. If you had you probably would have figured out that maybe they aren’t at finals frenzy because they are busy with community service, study hours, going to the meeting of the other organizations they are in, or class and that’s only a small percentage of a week in the life a Greek. I’m fairly certain had it not been for the Greek community your Relay for Life attendenace would have been much worse. So, don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Make it bend • Apr 22, 2012 at 9:31 PM
“I’m fairly certain had it not been for the Greek community your Relay for Life attendenace would have been much worse. So, don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
I believe that is the point of the article. Not enough students are involved, so if a group drops out, there is no one left to participate. It shouldn’t be like this, it would be amazing if every organization had a team, then we wouldn’t have to be fed from one hand…
And speaking of this hand, people need to stop thinking that Greeks run MSU and they essentially crap glitter. They may show support for events that are worthy of their time, but where are they when other events need this food from that hand? We have enough greeks in enough organizations and majors that they should be able to rally for many things, instead they all show up to other greek functions and events and maybe a few (and I mean a few) non-greek things. And the non-greek things better have some reward or benefit otherwise it is time wasted.
Here is my primary example: SD&O hosted a pet food drive a month or so ago and It essentially flopped (only 2 greek organizations participated). But the moment there is a pet food drive in the middle of greek week and it’s part of a prize, food and supplies come pouring in. What is that about?!
get your facts right • Apr 23, 2012 at 2:20 PM
you should know that there is not a prize given to the Greek organizations who win Greek Week. All they get it bragging rights. However, there was a prize given to the organization that donated the most during the SDO drive…. so that goes to show you that Greeks dont do it for the prizes they do it becuase they want to
Hillary • Apr 25, 2012 at 11:15 PM
I’m sorry the hand that does WHAT?
Let’s see… From my calculations:
All greek organizations who participated in Relay for Life raised a grand total of:
$1,933.85
That’s: 19% of the total money raised for Relay for Life
Colleges Against Cancer alone (with our less than 10 members) raised:
$944.83
While coordinating the event simultaneously.
So before you go bragging about how many people you are feeding perhaps you should look at how pathetic your numbers are considering the amount of people and resources you have to make your teams win every year.
I have been to Relay for Life events all over the state of Texas. I will tell you that at every other Relay that involves Greeks there is no way any other organization on campus could win besides a Greek and they are digging in their cars, purses and wallets at the last minute to turn in money to beat each other. It’s very impressive.
Let me tell you what’s not impressive. Last Friday night at 11pm at Relay for Life we are about to begin our Luminaria ceremony where we honor and remember those who have had cancer and some who have lost their battle. Our Relay chair announced for “All teams to come to the stage to start the ceremony” about the 3rd announcement all teams were gathered around the stage…except the Greeks. The American Cancer Society representative that works with MSU and I then walked to the campsites of the Greeks and had to specifically ask them to go to the stage (and some of them finally did).
Greeks, it’s not enough to show up with your fancy jackets and big letters. You are not a gracious gift to this campus. If you want to claim top dog, be one and actually do something, not just show up and say you were there.
Michael • Apr 26, 2012 at 6:30 AM
Hillary, thank you. That was AWESOME.
Joe Sanders • Apr 22, 2012 at 3:37 PM
Sarah did you take the time to go to all 113 organizations to see if they would be interested in attending Relay for Life? No, because out of the 7 organizations I am in, not a single person was told about Relay for Life so dont make the assumption that people are not involved when its the fact that your not publisizing to all organizations. Sure, you put up flyers and set up a table in the CSC, but when was the last time you did anything in Bolin, Dillard, Prothro, Bridwell, etc?
As far as Artist Lecture goes, I have never once been denied a free ticket as a student. The committee puts out the names of the lecturers well in advance (sometimes up to 8-9 months) so you have ample amounts of time to get that ticket. Sure if you wait till the last day you wont get one, but at that point its your fault. Dont blame the school for your lazyness.
Once again the Wichitan discredits the Greeks about being involved… what a shocker.You need to look at them being involved again. They have members in UPB, Order of Omega, SGA, LEO, Mustang Maniacs, SNA, Math Club, Spanish Club, Anime, BSN, Portico, Wesley Foundation, Student Ambassador, Peer Counselors, RA’s, just to name a few, so lay off of them when they are more involved then you,
I just think that your article is just going to turn people away from wanting to get involved so you really just found your answer. People arent involved because the Wichitan only decides to publicize the bad things about MSU and nothing postive that is relatable to the current student.
Hillary • Apr 25, 2012 at 10:53 PM
Joe, you must not have:
a. Checked your email
As there was a postmaster sent out more than once about Relay for Life. As well as an email personally made by me sent out LAST SEMESTER to the primary email registered to every (yes all 113) organizations leader (I obtained these off orgsync).
b. The senators of the 7+ organizations you are involved in must not attend senate meetings because we presented at a meeting.
c. You just not have a computer
We were on orgsync and Facebook
d. You must never leave your doorm room or place of hibernation
We had signs all over campus as well as “painted the campus purple” and had “purple out” days numerous times.
Also we had “scare cancer” on Halloween and a Dodgeball tournament where Relay was promoted.
Should I go on?…..
Michael • Apr 19, 2012 at 2:12 PM
The vast majority of MSU students are lazy, ignorant, materialistic, drunken, apathetic morons who don’t give a flip about anything. When they say “there’s nothing to do,” they mean there aren’t enough places to waste money, get drunk, or grind on each other like horny apes. They just want to get the degree so they can get on with the business of being fat, mediocre suburbanites like their parents.
Anti Wichitan • Apr 19, 2012 at 11:58 AM
When was the last time that Colleges Against Cancer gave money to any organization? You wonder why people dont donate to you, but when was the last time you donated back? Furthermore, instead of critisizing UPB and what they do, why dont you join them and help promote their events….
the wichitian needs to learn to be a solution and not a problem.
Hillary • Apr 25, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Actually CAC, in the last four years, has given over $40,000 to American Cancer Society which helps people in Wichita Falls obtain benefits like rides to treatment, makeovers, gas cards and hotel rooms while they are going through cancer treatment. Have you known anyone in Wichita Falls area who has had cancer? …bet they could tell you what CAC an ACS do….