By Ali Mounir, Guest Writer
It might feel like Student Life is putting on way more events this year. But that’s not the case, said Josh Prilliman, director of student activities.
The events he’s putting on, he said, have just become more visible.
Prilliman said his staff always does its best to set up events on campus so students can have fun and get their minds off studies. But this year, things have been a little different.
“This year, I think people feel like there is more events on campus just because of planning,” he said. “The planning, the advertising, the execution… students, student leaders and club organizations, they are more actively promoting their events.”
Also, Prilliman said, one thing making a big difference is that the events are being planned for times when more students are free and available.
Prilliman’s job is one that revolves around student feedback, he said. If he doesn’t talk to students, he won’t know what kind of events they want.
“If students don’t talk to me, campus seems dull, seems boring and seems empty,” he said.
Organizing events on campus is not easy, though, said junior Kassidy Miller, events coordinator for the Campus Activities Board.
“I definitely faced challenges, but I learned how to talk to other people that I have never talked to before,” she said, adding that it’s important to be able to “communicate with your team and know what could go wrong so you plan ahead.”
This year, Miller and Prilliman have definite ideas about how they’d like their events to go, they said.
“One of the main goals this year is to get everyone involved more and interact with other people they wouldn’t normally interact with,” Miller said.
Prilliman said he has many more fun events on this month’s calendar.
One of them is a paintball event at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at The Edge Paintball Adventures, 4305 N. Ridge Road. Students will be put on teams with people they aren't already friends with so that they meet and get to know new people. Those interested should sign up in Student Life.
Also, students can sign up to go to the haunted attraction Field of Screams at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 27. Those interested should sign up in the Student Life office.
“Go to Field of Screams. Get scared,” Prilliman said. “It’s okay. Have a good time.”
PHOTO: Courtesy, Unsplash
