February 2008 |
VOL 3 ISSUE 5
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Freshman Profiles About Staying Connected |
Scheduling of Events John Ginsburg, Director of University Center and Student Activities Recently, a voice mail was left in our Campus Activities office from a parent of a Webster student expressing concern that too many of the programs on campus started at 9:30pm on weekdays. They said that their child should be studying or sleeping in the late evenings. While the parent did not leave their name or number, it got me thinking about the perceptions that parents may have about campus programs, as well as their assumptions about the schedules their children keep. I hope I can clarify some of these issues, and prompt discussion between parents and students about the importance of balance while experiencing college life. First, campus programs are scheduled at many different times during the day and the evening. Many departments and student organizations host noon-time lectures or other short, or drop-in, programs that fit conveniently over the lunch hour. Late afternoon events happening between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. are also common, such as the Holden Public Policy Forum’s “Pizza and Politics” program. Most sporting events, such as basketball games, take place at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. during the week or during the afternoon on Saturdays. The Webster Film Series features a great variety of films several times a week. And, events sponsored by the various departments in Student Affairs are scheduled across the board. Second, the students have requested to have some late-night programs due to their schedules. You probably know that there are many night classes scheduled from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. We frequently hear from students, “Oh, I’d love to attend that program, but I have a night class.” We know that students want to do something to relax after their evening classes. They’ve had a long day, they are not ready to go to sleep yet, but their brain needs some mental rest before hitting the books again. As evidence, local restaurants get an influx of Webster students after 9:30 p.m., who are looking to socialize with classmates and grab a bite after class. Surveys have also shown interest in these late-night programs. We provide a diverse array of educational and social programming options that are being sought by students. Third, students need to learn responsibility for their own decisions. There are many events taking place in the late evening all over the metro area. These could also appear as temptations to be avoided, or merely as options that exist for individuals who have decided that they wish to attend. Either way, students are going to have to make decisions about the use of their time after college, so they may as well practice that now. Having programs at a variety of times allows students to decide for themselves whether it is the right moment for extra-curricular activity. Having such programs on-campus also provides the elements of convenience and supervision that students, and parents, may be looking for. For more information about the many different types of programs occurring on campus, please visit the Gorlok Online calendar at www.webster.edu/studlife/calendar/calendar.html. |
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