OPINION: On-campus lectures taken for granted
As the ASUSU Arts and Lectures director, I’m a part of STAB, which stands for Student Traditions, Activities, Arts and Lectures Board. Confusing, right? Where’s the A and L in the STAB acronym?
The Activities director runs the Howl, Mardi Gras and End of Year Bash. The Traditions director runs Homecoming Week, Festival of Trees, Traditions Week and Robins Awards. The Arts and Lectures director? I get to do anything else — so long as it falls in the realms of lectures or the arts — and I enjoy the creative freedom this gives the position.
The complete flexibility in the Arts and Lectures director’s programming is great, because there isn’t a direct comparison to what happened at last year’s Howl and Paint Dance, because Arts and Lectures doesn’t do the same thing every year. The only downside is that it is sometimes a position condemned to afterthought, which allows this position to constantly surprise students.
Oct. 18, Arts and Lectures brought Odyssey Dance Theatre’s “Thriller” to the Kent Concert Hall. The show sold out and was a great performance. Performance aside, one thing I loved and made sure happened while planning this event was give students a unique experience they could take advantage of at an affordable price. This fall, “Thriller” tickets at Kingsbury Hall were priced between $20-$40, depending on the seat. Student tickets at the Kent Concert Hall were $5 in advance.
One of our most popular programs is Poetry and a Beverage, or PoBev. A few times during the semester we occupy the TSC International Lounge with free, non-alcoholic drinks, as well as games and an open-mic stage.
This year we attached the tag line “Express and Refresh” to the event, because I feel like it encompasses the evening’s usual spirits. It’s an atmosphere where people can showcase their talents in poetry and music, relax and socialize, all while enjoying diverse performances on stage.
Seeing how successful PoBev has become, due to its consistency, got my brain going when I applied for the position. I came up with an idea to start a Cinema Series. Many people enjoy movies, but movie theaters can be pricey for poor college students, and some of our students lack modes of transportation.
Why not have movie nights a few times a semester on campus? The TSC Auditorium already has a great screen and recently got new seats. It is in the process of getting an upgrade in sound and visual equipment.
The entrance fee into one of the Cinema Series events is either $1 or a can of food. Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. we’ll be watching “Elf” and giving away a prize pack to one lucky student in attendance.
January, an Alfred Hitchcock double feature will show in the same venue, and I would love to hear what movies students would get excited about seeing spring semester, whether it be new releases, documentaries, cult classics or old favorites.
Lectures are some of the more underrated events hosted on campus and not just ASUSU-organized lectures. It’s a shame when any department or organization puts on a lecture that has a small audience; because it’s obvious that speaker is worth listening to, or they wouldn’t have been asked to speak. There are some amazing life stories shared by some of these lecturers, while others bring a wealth of knowledge that can be applied to students’ lives.
Last spring, Arts and Lectures hosted David Coleman, the date doctor, and was glad to see a packed audience. Coleman was engaging, entertaining and, most importantly, honest and helpful when students presented their romantic entanglements.
This coming spring semester our first lecturer will be Jordan Christy, author of “How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World.” Her book gives honest and upfront advice about how to live a successful life. Some of the subjects she’ll expand on are how to be successful in the workplace and in personal relationships.
I don’t want to give too much away for the rest of the semester; but I will say there is a serious business guru coming in February who was featured in BusinessWeek; an adventurer coming in April; and we’re planning something big to go along with that event. Lectures are an amazing way to expand your horizon while at USU.
Perhaps, even more fun than attending events is volunteering for events, and I’m not just saying that to plug involvement. The time I’ve spent with organizations on campus has taught me a lot and allowed me to meet people who have brightened my life. Obviously, I’m biased, but as you can see, the Arts and Lectures board is possibly the best. So, if you’re looking to get involved, I’d suggest you start there.