Many students, particularly first-year students, often remark how they feel there is little to do on campus during the weekends or on evenings in general. Upon first arriving at Shippensburg, I felt the same way; however, upon learning more about our campus and getting involved in many organizations, I have learned there is actually an astronomical number of activities in which to participate. 

Three main reasons exist for why students do not know about events. Firstly, students do not know where to find out about events on campus. Secondly, students often ignore the various advertising around campus. Finally, students are often hesitant to try something new or to get involved in the life of the campus, so they feel as if there is never anything to do. 

My realization on this whole situation came from an email I received from a first-year student asking me to try and coordinate more events on campus, as she felt there was never anything to do but to party on weekends. My email response included how I sympathized with her that there was never a clear outline to first-year students that outlined how to find out about events on campus; however, I outlined many different ways to “get in the loop.” 

First, I pointed out that many of the main programming organizations (APB, MSA, RHA, etc.) have social media accounts where they regularly promote their events. Additionally, campus media and SGA frequently share various campus events including athletic events. Secondly, I directed her to the campus online-event page (https://www.ship.edu/events) and to the campus master calendar. In addition to these online resources and promotions, thousands of posters abound across campus that promote events all the time.

Campus is covered with advertisements for events, yet students claim that they have no clue of events going on across campus. How can this be? The student population walks right past the advertisements, tunes out the announcements and scrolls right past the Instagram post. We as students are often part of our own dilemmas. 

Students, including myself, often hesitate to try something new. We find our niche and we stay in it. It is human nature for us to stay where it is comfortable. If our niche is not doing something on a Thursday evening, one might be bored and wonder what there is to do. However, they tuned out the other 20 different things going on that evening, not to mention the many events and programs that run throughout the semester like open swim at the pool, intramural sports, book clubs, guest speakers, religious services, musical groups, cooking classes, video game competitions and so much more. 

Despite what some believe, there is so much to do on our campus every day. We just do not all know where to find out about events. We tune out the advertisements and are hesitant to try something new and break outside our comfort zones. I encourage you to try something new — read a poster and get involved. 

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