Florida Leader's Annual Statewide Opinion Survey
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Continued
If you're still baffled about how to overcome campus obstacles, that's OK. Visit Florida Leader's web site for even more ideas in the expanded version of this article at www.floridaleader.com, or contact one of the leaders who provided their e-mail addresses for more info about their ideas.
Effective Publicity
No matter how hyped your team is about an event
you’ve been planning for months, the promotional campaign you launch to get students
talking about it can make or break turnout. At the University of West Florida, Campus
Activity Board members got students psyched up for a screening of their favorite
"scary movie" by bringing Scream III to life. "We had someone dress
like the killer from Scream and go around the commons area, where people come to
chill and eat, to pass out stuff with the CAB logo on it," says Nikki Elston,
programming assistant.
To further improve event attendance, CAB teams up with
other UWF campus organizations to co-sponsor events and share resources. "You get
double the people and double the ideas," Elston says. "Budgeting is also
increased because more money is given to do the event." CAB also prints event
information on sticky notes, attaches them to chocolate bars, and hands them out to
students. When gimmicks like these still don’t work, Elston says word of mouth is the
most reliable marketing tool. "Often, people are bombarded with flyers, so do a lot
of talking to get people excited about an event."
At St. Thomas University, Student Athlete Advisory Board
members get positive press and new recruits for their group by serving the community.
"At least two athletes represented nine sports from cross-country to tennis in
different schools throughout the community," says Richard Matricaria, team
representative. "We invited the star athletes to go out and read stories to the
children from pre-school to the second grade." In addition, Matricaria says the group
hosts barbecues and pep rallies to create awareness. "We also make our bulletin board
big and use a catchy slogan, for example, ‘Baseball—Catch the Fever.’"
Commuters and Nontraditional Students
Reaching out to special populations to get them
involved in campus life is another frustration for student officials. Like other leaders
at largely commuter schools, Palm Beach Atlantic College’s Programming Association
members have to convince students to stick around after class. "We’ve had a hard
time reaching our commuter population, which makes up over half of our students,"
says Adam Geuder, concert director. Last year, Geuder and his team started a newsletter
for commuters to keep them informed. "About 600 copies go out once a month,"
says Geuder, who adds the most popular initiative is a commuter luncheon series.
"They appreciate the free meal." Geuder says programmers also plan for returning
students and their families with events such as a Halloween costume party and a
traditional Christmas lighting ceremony.
Fighting Apathy
Florida Atlantic University campus leaders gave
students a reason to stop watching videos and get off the couch—they brought MTV to
the school. "We take every event and try to market it to students out here,"
says Stacy Harrison, student assistant for Student Development and Activities. "The
most successful apathy-fighting event they produced was the ‘MTV Campus
Invasion.’ Students had the opportunity to interact with all MTV has to offer from
MTV Style, to Who Wants To Be A VJ?, students worked with the staff of MTV." As part
of the production, Bush and Moby performed in concert. "This shows that we’re
trying to provide interesting events for students, which gets them involved."
On a high-tech campus that’s virtually free of
would-be thespians, how do you get students to act up? For members of the Florida
Institute of Technology’s College Players, friendship makes the heart grow
fonder—of acting, that is. "We foster friendships in the theater troupe,"
says Chris Kelly, president. "Because most people are nice, the atmosphere is really
encouraging which makes students care about staying in and becoming active. If you do not
make a part in the play, you can join the stage crew or a committee."
At the University of Tampa, campus leaders knock out
apathy with imaginative publicity techniques. "We’re constantly trying to change
our advertisement around to get students involved in our events," says Paul Trusik,
Student Productions president. "We’re trying to be more fresh by using a lot of
the latest graphics and tons of colors. For Halloween, I want to create props people can
relate to such as a character, a little girl trick-or-treating who says, ‘What are
you doing for Halloween?’ and a list of all our events on the bottom." Trusik
adds the group will start a freshman training and mentor program in the fall to prepare
UT’s future producers.
What’s the best way you’ve found to motivate others and fight
apathy?
"If you can’t keep them interested,
they’ll lose all motivation to do anything. During the semester, we have the
‘Battle of The Floors,’ a physical sport competition between dorm floors."
—Shadel Hamilton, varsity basketball team captain, Johnson and Wales
University dman_me_98@yahoo.com
"I’m the type of person who initiates. I also
set an example by going to games or events and asking others to join me."
—Cedric McMinn, homecoming events chair, Florida International University,
mrfiu@hotmail.com
"Have a lot of genuine enthusiasm about what
you’re doing. Show the worth in the organization and how the events are valuable too.
Students should know the importance is in the school spirit we are accomplishing."
—Richard Matricaria, team representative, Student Athlete Advisory Board,
St. Thomas University
Are community service opportunities an important mission for student groups?
"Yes. It gives students within the
organization an opportunity to build personal relationships—those of us who donate
our time, work together, and create bonds among all parts of the community."
—Staceyann Sinclair, 99-00 co-president, Collegiate Ambassador Team,
Johnson and Wales University
"Yes. Community service allows students to
demonstrate their true character to the community and to disprove many of the negative
stereotypes of laziness and apathy associated with college students."
—Alissa Walley, counseling office assistant, Central Florida Community
College, lishar815@hotmail.com
"Definitely. As individuals, we grow as we give to
our community. Interacting with those you share your city or neighborhood with will give
you the power to help them. Groups of students share their time and the people that are
being helped will return the service with a laugh or a story."
—Angela Garcia, president, Delta Epsilon Iota, International Fine Arts
College
Continued
Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved
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