On Feb. 19, students gathered at the ISUB for ASUI’s annual Winter Social event. Participants enjoyed access to free food, campus resources and exciting activities.
The University of Idaho’s student government collaborated with groups all over campus to make this event a reality. ASUI Vice President Emma Johnston explained why it is so important to provide fun on-campus events for students.
“I think events such as the ASUI Winter Social are a vital part of building up the Vandal community on campus,” she said. “Events that not only provide students with fun and engaging activities but help connect them to other students and organizations help enrich the student experience and strengthen the feeling of connection.”
With the possibility of winning big raffle prizes like a flat-screen TV or electric scooter, this year’s Winter Social attracted a lot of visitors. The entire building was occupied by the event, with 35 clubs and five student vendors distributed throughout.
While grabbing one of the 600 servings of free nachos provided by Idaho Eats, students could enjoy the live DJ with lights. Additionally, they could bounce around the ISUB to enjoy the mechanical bull, casino room, crafting station or Esports games.
Senior Olivia Ponte explained the impact that the Winter Social had on her relationship to campus. Ponte said, “I feel like this event makes campus a lot more welcoming, especially for newer students. Tonight, I saw people that I have classes with but wouldn’t normally hang out with outside of that. It allowed me to connect with them on a deeper level, and the Winter Social was a really good space to do that.”
Another senior, Brielle Sorensen, connected this idea to UI’s campus culture. She said, “I feel like the Vandal family is a very prominent thing about the University of Idaho, and it’s really cool to watch that reflected in events like the Winter Social that make our school so special. It was fun to watch all these connections being formed while hanging out with some of my closest friends.”
Sorenson continued by emphasizing how important it is for students to join clubs and organizations on campus and how vital it is to increase their visibility.
“I feel like once a student feels like they are connected to something a little bit bigger than themselves, and they join these different clubs and communities that make them feel empowered and seen and heard, I think that does help to grow their sense of community,” she said.
The ASUI Winter Social provided students with the ability to explore what campus has to offer, while having fun with new and preexisting connections.
Sophia Robertson can be reached at [email protected]