The Justice

Here at Brandeis, on-campus events are often considered disappointing compared to their off-campus cousins. With the notable exception of events like the International Club's Pachanga and the Student Union's eXstaSy, many official events are widely regarded by students as substandard. This perception may be overstated, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement in on-campus programming.

Last year's Pachanga was well-attended, and people enjoyed themselves. eXstaSy was overflowing to the point that students were actually shut out from the event once it reached maximum capacity. On the other hand, events like last week's '80s and Blacklight Dances, even if they were well-organized, were poorly attended and suffered as a result. There's a problem when a sponsored event draws a smaller patronage than a party at the Mods or another off-campus location.

Part of this is unavoidable. Even Student Events Director Ilyssa Adler said that some students conclude that an event will be disappointing, poorly attended or otherwise dull just because it's an on-campus event. In contrast, students expect well-established club events like Pachanga to be big and attend in droves as a result. Why shouldn't all on-campus events be highly anticipated like Pachanga and eXstaSy? When off-campus options like fraternity parties are available, it behooves groups planning on-campus events to match and even exceed the quality of unofficial parties.

There's a lot that groups like SE can do to improve the reputation of on-campus functions. For example, the '80s Dance was poorly publicized; visibility and word of mouth are essential. Not everything requires a theme like a decade-themed dance or the "Screw Your Roomate" Dance.

SE has made efforts to improve its programming, but a more concerted attempt to advertise functions, particularly those held early in the year, would do wonders for its standing.

While groups like SE can take measures to improve on-campus programming, students themselves can support those efforts by attending. These events are planned for students in the first place; we should take advantage of.

Ultimately, poor student attendance at on-campus events is detrimental to the University as much as it is to the organizations that arrange them. Eager high-school students looking for a university should be able to look at Brandeis and recognize a thriving on-campus atmosphere, both inside and outside the classroom.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools