Thunderwolf Pride

An average attendance of 100 students for homecoming events is low for a campus the size of CSU-Pueblo, which has a total student population of approximately 4,100 students. Several students said they were unaware of when and where the week’s events would take place and of the themes for each day as well.

Despite the confusion, this year’s homecoming week claimed a higher student turnout than past years.

“It’s very low, and it’s getting better,” Patrick Sheehan, senior business major, said.

Laura Brandt, the Alumni Association President and the homecoming coordinator said the attendance at the events averaged about 100 students.

“We had a better turnout this year than in previous years,” Brandt said.

Senior social work major Heather Burke said she thinks school spirit on campus is not too strong but that it is improving.

Part of the low attendance for homecoming and other campus activities is due to a lack of advertising of events according to students.

“There needs to be more advertising and not just in bathrooms,” Thomas Johnson, junior art major said. “Some people don’t even use the bathrooms on campus.”

In addition, the university has created a strong hold on campus e-mail spamming which interrupts some advertising that can only be done by utilizing fliers such as the Royal Flush.

However, no club or campus activity committee has reconciled the issues of raising student involvement, though several groups continue to make efforts.

Traditionally, homecoming week is aimed toward supporting the school’s football team, but CSU-Pueblo will not have this crucial necessity until next fall.

“It’s kind of anti-climatic,” Eric Gilliland, junior mass communications major, said.

He attended the bonfire, which is an event where students gather around a huge bonfire and socialize or participate in different events such as a wing eating contest.
“What we’re missing is football,” Patrick Jones, junior history major, said.

Non-traditional student Tim Encinias, an undeclared freshman, has his own idea of why attendance is so low.

“They should have more events geared toward non-traditional students,” said Encinias. “Me going to those events would be like me going back to high school and I’m just too old for that.”

The campus has a 40 percent non-traditional student population, according to university statistics.

Students also commented that a change in the nature of the events would have to take place in order for more people to attend.

“I would like to see more music and activities that help students interact with each other.” Brent Lorenz, a sophomore EXHPR major said.

Several students said the atmosphere on campus presents the idea that students should attend class and immediately leave campus, rather than stick around for any other extracurricular activity.

“It always the same people showing up to the events,” Johnson said.

According to Matt LaMunyan, a co-captain of the CSU-Pueblo cheerleading squad said it’s hard for the team to get the crowd involved. LaMunyan said it also makes it hard for the cheerleaders to get into their cheers when the crowd is so low in numbers and removed.

“I think to myself, why am I here if the crowd looks as if they don’t even want to be?” LaMunyan said.

Other organizations on campus such as the Office of Student Activities have hosted activities on campus in efforts of attracting a wide variety of students have shown a low attendance rate as well.

OSA hosts events such as the spring concert which was headlined by performers such as Kanye West and Taking Back Sunday. The spring concert is the only event hosted by a campus organization that attracts hundreds of students and also allows the community to take part. Other events include magicians and comedians.

All of the students who commented on the subject said they remain hopeful that the induction of a new football team will boost morale and school spirit as a whole.

Posted in Features