OUR VIEW: Double bookings not limited to Robins Awards
Some weekends come and go with little for Utah State University students to do that they haven’t done every weekend the whole semester. This was not one of those weekends.
Students had at least two unique things to choose from Saturday night. Unfortunately, they couldn’t do both.
The Associated Students of USU is currently concerned about the competition their spring formal dance and Robins’ Awards will face from the KVFX 94.5 FM “Old School” concert in April. Both events are scheduled for the same night, and organizers of the dance are worried the concert will take people away from the dance and awards ceremony.
In fact, many have suggested Physical Plant broke a long-standing agreement that university facilities not be scheduled on the same night as ASUSU-sponsored activities. Concert organizers have planned to hold it in the Spectrum.
However, ASUSU seems to have dished out a little of what it is having a hard time taking.
The ASUSU-sponsored Mardi Gras celebration was one of two events held at USU Saturday night. A unique activity that offered students a much-needed alternative to renting a movie or staying in and doing homework, Mardi Gras would normally be a welcomed event.
However, Saturday night was also the night the USU Native American Student Council planned its annual Powwow. The Powwow is an important tradition at USU, one that gives students the opportunity to explore new cultures and learn about the United States’ original history.
ASUSU even voted a few weeks ago to give money to the NASC to help them with the Powwow.
That was an important showing of support, but better communication with the NASC would have been even better support.
Of course, ASUSU can’t be expected to know and plan around everything going on on campus, but – to the organization’s own arguments – long-held traditions like the Powwow (or Robins’ Awards) should be recognized and taken into consideration when other events are being planned.
The ASUSU Mardi Gras is a timely event, but this year’s didn’t correspond with the actual Mardi Gras celebration. And even if it was necessary for Mardi Gras to be held this weekend, early communication with the NASC may have made it possible for the Powwow to be rescheduled with plenty of time to plan and advertise.
USU students want and could greatly benefit from a more diverse range of activities. It’s too bad that, while some weekends lack sorely in anything to do, others are over-scheduled, and two excellent options lose attendance to each other.