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There is a lot to do on Campus

February 13th, 2023 by Kenneth Abrahams

“There is nothing to do on campus,” is a phrase that I am sick to death of hearing. Over the years, I have written about this very topic. Pointing out to parents that, at times, your kid tells you that they spent the weekend in their rooms doing nothing, instead of telling you what they really did. Perhaps, they went to visit a friend at another school and didn’t want to you to know. Maybe they attended a party or met someone special and it is too early to share that with you. So instead of being brutally honest about what they did all weekend, they say they did nothing. This is an age old dance between parents and college students, but in recent years it’s become a major problem for colleges and universities. No longer are parents encouraging their college students to go out and make friends, join groups, or be more involved. Instead, parents are calling the president’s office at these schools to complain that there is nothing for their child to do on campus.

There are organized groups on campus for a wide range of interests both academic and social.  Many campuses have cultural groups, religious organizations, clubs for different majors, games, and hobbies galore. Are you struggling with your sexuality or have recently come out and are looking for support and a group of like minded individuals? Most campuses have you covered. Perhaps you are a big Harry Potter fan and want to learn to play Quidditch. Yes, there are many campuses that have Quidditch teams and matches. Looking for a group of Jewish students to enjoy Shabbat dinner with and spend the High Holidays praying together? Many campuses have Hillel on campus.

Every week there are literally dozens of events. Academic departments sponsor lectures and special guests on campus. Theater and dance majors have performances frequently on campus. Let us not forget that there are athletic events weekly. Schools not only offer the intercollegiate competitions, but many offer club and intramural sports as well. These are open to people with a wide range of athletic abilities. Trust me, I played intramural basketball for 3 years in college. I was terrible but we had a great time. Ever wanted to be an on-air DJ? Check out the campus radio station. Perhaps writing is your thing, college and university newspapers always need contributors.

Along with all of that, there are the events and activities provided by the programing board and Student Life, or Student Engagement Offices. They spend months planning, organizing, advertising, staffing, and executing these events. Often, they are doing this as a volunteer position on campus and receive no compensation and little or no thanks. All their hard work is aimed at making students feel like part of a community as well as providing them with opportunities to meet other people on campus in a variety of social settings.

Unfortunately, when people complain about the lack of activities, they are unaware of the chain reaction that is often set in motion. Upper-level administrators get involved and dictate to those planning the events that more needs to be done. There is no regard to the fact that these offices can be understaffed and over worked. Many times, I have heard that events are being planned at the behest of the President’s office with little or no warning. These events are often not what the students want and, predictably, attendance is lower than expected or nonexistent. We have gone from putting the quality of the events first to a simple numbers game. Colleges have become very consumer driven and often the parents are considered the consumers.

Not only does this create chaos, it is soul crushing to the students and staff that have worked incredibly hard trying to plan good events. Post COVID attendance at campus events has been hit or miss. Some schools are reporting record attendance while others are struggling to wrench students out of their residence hall rooms. There are several challenges that these schools have faced and will continue to face. A number of students either don’t want to stay on campus for the weekend or can’t. As the cost of education continues to rise, many students go home on the weekend to work. Some are needed at home to help with younger siblings or have a significant other at home or at a different school, and they use weekends to see one another.

Money is also an issue. For what they are asked to do, many of these schools are short on funds. Students also may be unaware of how much things cost. Spring concerts continue to be a huge drain on campus budgets at many institutions. Sure, it would be fantastic to bring Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, or Justin Bieber to campus, but concerts are a high-ticket item and, especially for smaller schools, it is hard to pick a genre that pleases the masses. Yes, it is very cool when they happen but that is one program among many in an academic year.

It would be great if this was more tongue in cheek, uplifting, and funny but it is a serious problem. My clients are mostly college and universities and conversations with them on this topic have been painful. They put a lot of work into the events they plan and often are rewarded with empty rooms and nasty comments on social media about the campus community and the events they have provided.

Here are some suggestions before you pick up that phone or send that complaining email:

If you are a parent, take the, “there’s nothing to do on campus,” comment with a grain of salt.

Do a little research, and you will find that there is more to do than you believe.

Parents or students, do your homework, see what is out there before sending the nastygram. My mother always said if you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

Don’t like what is being brought to campus? Get involved, make a difference. Go to events and provide positive feedback for potential improvements. Sitting on the sidelines and complaining helps nobody and solves nothing.

Also, take a minute to thank the people that planned these events remember they have feelings to.

About the Author:

Ken Abrahams was an involved student in college and knows firsthand the work that goes into making things happen on a college campus.

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