Campus events build connections: Meet new people, make new friends

Kirkwood Community College hosts events multiple days a week for its students, and research supports that students who attend events have a better college experience. 

Seth VanderTuig, director of Student Life, said he believes it is of utmost importance to have an event for every student. According to VanderTuig, “Not one singular event attracts every student. I don’t expect students to attend every event but we want events for every student.” 

Jacob Merritt, criminal justice, said although he hasn’t attended a campus event yet, he does understand the importance of events. 

Merritt shared, “I haven’t been to any campus events since the start of the school year and I haven’t made any new friends this year. I think that shows the importance campus events have specifically on making new friends and meeting new people.” 

VanderTuig shared the same sentiment as Merritt.  “I went to Kirkwood 23 years ago I should have dropped out, but I joined a club and I still work here 23 years later and I even met my wife through Kirkwood,” he said.  

VanderTuig said the money to host events is provided by student tuition. “We want to make sure we’re putting on good and fun events so we don’t waste your money,” he said.  

VanderTuig also pointed out that the numbers show going to campus events can help academically. 

According to VanderTuig, of students who didn’t go to events last fall, 68% came back to school,  people who went to one event 89% came back. On top of that on average the more students went to events the higher their GPA was. 

VanderTuig added, “I just want to reiterate that the goal of these events is to give Kirkwood students a better college experience, and I truly do believe I have an event or club for everyone on campus.”

Cyrus Williams, psychology, said, “I’ve been to quite a few events. The main one I like to go to is the stuffed animal making one. I think students absolutely should go to events. 

“They put a lot of effort into these events, so going to them and participating in them is helping Student Life gauge ‘yeah people are having fun at this, let’s continue to do this.’”