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Sound Off Report
by Jay Gillie
Ideas from the Sound-Off
- The need for a centralized location that students can go to for events/programming postings. Perhaps a kiosk type.
- Quality vs. Quantity: Possibly creating a core of events that is appealing to students' and begins early in the semester and is strategically placed at dates and times to get the maximum student turn out.
- The need to break down barriers that exist between the various organizations on campus. This due to the fact that many students feel as though if one group sponsors an event then other groups/students will not attend based on what group is having the event.
- Having professors announce when events are happening and give extra credit for attending some events.
- Having the coaches take on a larger role in promoting events since there are so many students involved in athletics.
- The Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club weekly events calendar.
- Encouraging campus organizations to work together to create events that reach a wider range of students.
- Encouraging students to come forward when they have ideas.
- Connecting with other colleges regarding events.
- Having more school spirit based events to get organizations more involved.
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On Thursday November 9th a student forum was held to analyze why there is minimal student involvement as it pertains to programming and events that are either sponsored by the college or organizations on campus. The panel that helped facilitate this event consisted of Robin Cole (CAB), Aubrey Green (SGA President), and Jay Gillie (Difficult Dialogues). These individuals were chosen based on the interactions they have with the various student organizations on campus as well as their contact with students individually.
The students that attended the event numbered roughly between 30-40 and of them, there were not only students of different backgrounds and interest, but different involvement with groups on campus. One of the most troubling facts that I took away from the Sound-Off was that students acknowledged that there is something wrong but very few offered any better solutions to the problems than the ones already in place. However, it was very optimistic to see that students want to become more engaged with this institution and that allows those who are trying to create programming that is appealing to students a chance to have success.
Of the things that students suggested that I felt had the most promise, one of them was establishing a "Campus Kiosk" at a central location on campus (perhaps on the quad) to advertise upcoming events on campus. This same location could be used to post events that are happening in the Mars Hill community as well as Asheville. Another idea that was generated by a student who doesn't have a car was the need to have a shuttle that goes into Asheville. While it isn't the responsibility of the college to transport students into Asheville, I do believe that by establishing a program that allows students who don't drive to be able to access and experience Asheville and all it has to offer will be a great service to those students and our institution.
A few things still stand out in my mind from the Sound- Off but the one that I see as being top priority is that some students felt like they didn't know where to turn to when they had ideas. I almost instantly begin to consider that if there were students who felt this way that attended the Sound-Off, there has to be many more students that feel the exact same way that didn't attend. Because of this I developed a fear that if we aren't encouraging our students to be bold yet tactful and proactive when it comes to them feeling that their opinion matters here at while they're her at Mars Hill, then we're going to continue to have a difficult time getting students to get involved with campus led events.
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