Now that Covid-19 restrictions have come to a near close, the Student Activities Center (SAC) has been ramping up the quality and quantity of their events, reintroducing trips, dances, and adding a wide array of new events to the table.
In its first year as an official student organization, SCOPE (Student Committee of Programming and Engagement) has taken the SAC by storm. The initiation of this committee has opened doors for student input in the structuring and planning of downtime activities on campus.
The goal of SAC director Ms. Alexandra Long and SCOPE is to always have options for students to unwind. “I never want to hear that there’s nothing to do,” said Ms. Long. SCOPE Event Chair Noah McBride ’23 also explained that for this reason precisely, “the schedule is so jam packed.” The Committee always works to create events with an atmosphere that provides a small escape for students from school stresses and academic life. When asked about their system for planning the Holiday Ball and Last Hurrah, McBride explained that they strive to “create an atmosphere that allows students to feel like they’re in a new space, not just the dining hall.”
McBride believes that increased presence of student input through SCOPE in the planning of events has improved their success. “With a more dedicated committee and SCOPE, there’s more student input within these events that help shape which events we do,” he said. The range and creativity of the events has also grown dramatically since previous years. “We have a lot more members on board with different opinions, different ideas,” said SCOPE President Annika Lee ’23. Innovation amongst the SAC is also a result of restriction on typical activities brought about by Covid-19. “We’ve also developed creative ways to have events during Covid, and those kind of stuck, and have been reintroduced this year,” McBride stated.
Students were ecstatic for the coveted return of the Holiday Ball. Not only was this the first HolBall since 2019, but also the first to not require an entrance fee. Up until this year, events such as trips to NYC, State Fairs, attendance to Harvest Fest, and even the Holiday Ball, all cost each student $15-20. This year, these fees have been waived completely. “I just felt that it was important for our students to be able to go and not have to worry about finding the money for a ticket. I’m really just trying to bring the fun back, and I think if I offer free events, that’s what’s gonna get kids to come,” said Ms. Long.
Additionally, even smaller scale events such as making stuffed animals, cookie decorating, and movie nights, have become increasingly popular. “The biggest challenge this year is that more students are attending our events … for example, when I planned the pancake bar, we ran out of food in fifteen minutes,” Ms. Long noted.
More events that will be returning this year include Broomball (Ms. Long’s favorite), which is a game on the ice rink with sticks, a ball, and sneakers, and the Lip sync battle, a student idea that premiered last year and achieved astounding success. Lee would also like to bring back some of her favorite events from her freshman year. “The Carnival…there was a Ferris wheel and a bunch of food trucks. It was really fun but definitely very costly.” According to McBride, a potential Masquerade Ball may also be in the works.
Moreover, Ms. Long is constantly on the hunt for new ideas and is looking to clubs for new initiatives. “I’d love for clubs to embrace their mission statement and their theme to come up with new ideas that aren’t just movie showings,” she said. “So, if students have ideas or suggestions, my door’s always open and I would love to hear them.”
Graphic by Yujin Kim ’23/The Choate News
