Students Rachelle Hill, Evangeline Moffitt, Sasha Rohr, Justin Boling, and Caden Shoemaker meet in the student union’s The Underground to plot and plan the weekend ahead. Despite the prediction of inclement weather, the student activity calendar still offers plenty of choices to beat the winter blues.
Do you have a case of cabin fever? Winter doldrums? Seasonal affect disorder hitting hard in these winter months?
“Events are happening on the campus of Potomac State College every single day. Even in the dead of winter,” according to Kara Hotchkiss, director of residence life and coordinator of student engagement.
In fact, Hotchkiss estimates between athletic events, student run clubs and organizations, programs offered through the Mary F. Shipper Library, wellness activities out of the Health Center, musical programs, farming and animal exhibits, field and bus trips, and events sponsored through her department, the campus hosts and even boasts up to six events per day – and that number easily triples going into the warmer months of the year.
“Once the weather gets warmer, it doesn’t become a question of what is there to do but ‘what am I going to miss?”’ Hotchkiss said.
Students Larkin Walker and Danielle Marsh aren’t letting a cold snap keep them from enjoying a lively game of Connect Four on the snow-covered Quad.
The campus social activities don’t have to be grand. They can be as simple as a group movie night, an evening of board games, or supersized Jenga or Connect Four at the student union. Other times, the event can be quite ambitious. Last year, for instance, what was then a vacant Friend Hall (now home to the campus police department) was converted for one night into a pop-up student entertainment complex – complete with multi-level dance floors, deejays, a juice bar, and themed activity areas.
“I have been to some college campuses where there are maybe six things to do in a week,” said Hotchkiss. “This campus, for its small size, packs a lot in every week. There is no reason to be bored on this campus. If you are bored on this campus, you are making that choice to be bored.”
There are pickleball tournaments, live music and entertainment, rotating art exhibits, student clubs and organizations hosting social mixers, book clubs, writing groups, theatre activities, cookie decorating classes, coffee socials, trivia nights, occasional science fairs, and even classes making ornaments and cards.
Residence Life – located in University Place - is even hosting a “Silent Disco” later this month. Never heard of it? It’s a surreal experience where attendees don headphones synchronized to music choices and dance and party to what is coming through the headphones and not through external speakers.
“It’s fun and hilarious, actually, because anyone walking in would see people dancing in complete silence,” said Hotchkiss. “That’s going to be a lot of fun.”
There are also campus-exclusive festivals – like the Frosty Fest in December. The upcoming 125th birthday celebration will also be coordinated with other celebratory social and student activities.
“In everything we do, we think- how can we make the college experience more enjoyable and get more students involved?” Hotchkiss said. “We are always thinking and planning the next big activity or event.”
Students Chase House and Emerson Haddix brave the winter chill to walk the campus in search of the next “thing to do” on campus.
In the spring semester, in particular, athletic events on campus take on a life all their own with doubleheaders or home games that overlap one another on the schedule. When that happens, food trucks are often provided to give the game an authentic tailgate party atmosphere.
“In addition to the sporting event itself, there are activities around those, like the food vendors that come in, and we do halftime contests and get the students involved, so even if you didn’t want to come to the game itself, there would still be something around that event that you would enjoy,” said Hotchkiss.
That said, the game itself is usually a satisfying activity.
“We have some of the best athletes around, and so cheering them on becomes the event inside the event,” she said. “There’s a feeling of connection and community when everyone is cheering on a win. And there are games and athletic events all year round.”
That “next big activity” could even be one not yet suggested or even conceived.
“Not only do we have these events on the calendar, but we also take suggestions for events. If anyone has an idea for an event we can do or bring to campus that students would enjoy, we are open to hear about it,” Hotchkiss said.
To that end, college life is just like life itself.
“You get out of it what you put into it,” Hotchkiss said. “It’s all about experiencing what is available to you and then getting out there and doing it. It’s what you make of it. Your college experience is completely up to you. But anyone who has ever had a well-rounded college experience and has those memories of college can tell you it was about what they did on campus, the friendships they made, and the relationships they had. Yes, college is about what you learn and your education and preparing you for a future, but it’s also about what you do, who you meet, learning to be social, and how you spend your time.”
What's happening this weekend and early next week:
Become Involved in Student Government
Buy a Candy Gram for Valentine’s Day
Suggest a campus activity or event using this form.
To see what student activities are currently happening on campus, check the weekly ENews newsletter sent to student inboxes or visit the event calendar.