"Game of COMS" carnival brings another successful Communication Week to a close
Communication Week reached new heights on April 14 when faculty, students and friends came together to enjoy a fun-filled evening at the “Game of COMS” carnival.
The carnival took place on the Student Recreation and Wellness Center multi-activity court. From 8 p.m. to midnight, attendees enjoyed games, food and a dancing to sounds provided by a live DJ.
The organizers for Communication Week and the carnival were mostly students in the COMS 460: Promotional Planning and Implementation. In a joint effort, these students brainstormed ideas, planned attractions and set up the carnival. These efforts served as the capstones to their semester and hands-on opportunities to gain experience in event planning.
In addition to a mechanical bull, photo booth and other games, student organizations and clubs promoted upcoming fundraisers and networking opportunities with their peers. According to organizers, connecting students to one another was an important function of the event.
“It benefits individuals in our major because it’s a way for communication majors to come have a good, fun time and to spread the word about the School of Communication,” said Kelsey Marchant, a junior communication major and organizer for Communication Week.
Adjunct Instructor Max Esterhuizen attended the event to mingle with fellow faculty members and students in a more relaxed setting. He was impressed by the results of the hard work on display.
“This gives students practice running an event and actually seeing how hard it is to put together an event like this,” Esterhuizen said. “There are lots of working parts here and it’s good to see it set up so well.”
Communication Week, now in its sixth year, is an opportunity for one of the largest academic programs on the campus – the School of Communication – to recognize the hard work of students and alumni. In addition to celebratory events, such as the carnival and student awards ceremonies, alumni and working professionals are invited to campus to offer their perspectives on life after college.
This year saw impressive attendance at both professional development events and the more entertainment-oriented ones. The carnival, in particular, boasted some of its highest numbers ever.
“The whole School of Communication and a lot of its student community are here,” said senior and carnival enthusiast Megan Ayre. “It’s a fun way to see our faculty and students come together as one big family. It’s a really good time.”
As Communication Week came to a close, the carnival set new expectations for what’s next in the SOC. Two of the most major developments are the welcoming of Matthew Smith, the school’s new director, and the relocation of the school to the new College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences building. Both changes will occur in time for the fall 2016 semester.