If you didn’t throw it away in the Sandbar trashcan approximately three seconds after you opened your mailbox, it’s time to take a good look at the March calendar that we all received in our on-campus mailboxes. The Student Programming Board, Campus Recreation, Athletic Advisory board, student clubs and other organizations come together each month to create a fresh program of campus-centered activities for the student body, and this month’s is especially exceptional. As the students being catered to, we need to take advantage of what they’ve put together for us. Or at least read the calendar.
This year — especially this semester — has seen an increase of the Board and Campus Rec sponsored activities and opportunities. The Board’s staff has stepped up their game and has created events with our diverse student body in mind. They’ve brainstormed an impressive schedule so far and, as the year goes on, the schedule gets better and better.
For example, take a look at the March calendar. It’s exploding with events that are not limited to a few per week, but a few per day in some cases. We were welcomed back from Spring Break with seven sporting events, stand-up paddle boarding, candlelight yoga, a star gazing hike, a PIT musical, Coffeehouse and a Lu’au. Whether or not you’ve considered nocturnal outdoor fitness or Polynesian culture your forte, you have to applaud that creativity.
With this plethora of events, the Board, along with other clubs, are revealing their sensitivity to the Pepperdine community’s voice. It seems as if this year, they’ve finally heard our pleas (or complaints) and have realized what it takes for students to participate in activities. So what are those deciding factors? Price, convenience and social potential.
Many, if not all, of the events definitely follow suit. While most events are offered for free, with the only requirement being that students sign up in advance, other events have a low cost, making it easy for students to attend. Even off-campus events provide transportation or car pooling to make sure all students can take part. By limiting the difficulties students typically face to attend an event, the Board exposes students to all sorts of activities and gives them a chance to take advantage of the opportunities created for them.
So, we need to take them. The March calendar has upped the ante with an impressive array of activities and it’s only fair that we give them a shot by reciprocating the effort put into organizing them. From movie nights to Campus Rec collaborations, the calendar has something for everyone; and events this month are quite numerous. It’s not just weekends anymore; the weekdays have received some much-deserved love. In fact, there are only four days in the March calendar that are void of activity opportunities, which means there are 27 days worth of events for us to enjoy.
This leaves no excuse for students to participate. Yes, we don’t always have a lot of free time during the week, but when are we ever going to get the chance to buy Disneyland tickets for $20 (originally a $99 value) or have an awesome Spring concert featuring Mat Kearney and Gym Class Heroes? The answer is never. So, why let them go to waste? Our level of participation shows the Board what we like and don’t like, ensuring that we continue getting cool activities planned for us on our campus.
Taking advantage of these opportunities also offers a fun way to spend time with friends and make new friends, promoting a greater sense of community. It’s a chance to come together over a mutual interest and share that interest with another person, whether it is someone who is already a friend or someone new.
These activities help promote a greater sense of school spirit because they allow for the growth of the Pepperdine community. Whether it is a couple people getting together for sunset kayaking or a large group coming together for a movie night, it means the student body is coming together to take pride in what Pepperdine has to offer. The recent WaveZone events show this unity the best. The festivities have finally spurred students to attend athletic events and support our teams. This kind of togetherness makes for a stronger Pepperdine community.
The Board, in congruence with other groups, is doing a fantastic job giving us ways to participate in some unique activities and we, the student body, need to make sure we take advantage of them. It’s much better to have lived knowing you tried something instead of living with regret for missing out on an opportunity.