University-sponsored events are a core component of the college experience. This is why I believe it is of utmost importance that Uhart creates a centralized, accurate, and efficient way to notify students of upcoming campus events. The current method of spreading information feels disjointed and nebulous. Some events are listed in U-Notes, others on the campus calendar, and sometimes, students are forced to rely on different organization’s Instagram pages to learn about events. Not only are happenings listed in different locations, but attempting to access these areas is oftentimes a headache. Plenty of students would like to attend events, however, the current system makes it very difficult to track down necessary information. There have been countless times that I have attempted to attend events, but upon arrival, I was disappointed to learn that the event had been canceled. I think that a lot of people’s time on campus would be improved if they had access to a portal where all events and their information were listed. The organizations that host events also tend to release specific information about events far too late for students to sign up.
For example, Uhart Residential Life announced their giveaway of Yard Goats tickets only two days before the Yard Goats baseball game was scheduled to happen. How is that enough
time? While a last-minute surprise can be fun; many students have scheduled themselves to work on the weekends, thinking that there are not going to be any events, ultimately preventing them from attending. Additionally, the short announcement time leaves students unable to budget for pricier events. A lot of these issues could be fixed if students could rely on the information that is being disseminated I thoroughly enjoy a lot of the events that are offered to us students, I just think that Uhart could present this information in a better format. The last thing I hope to do is sound ungrateful. I understand that a lot of hard work is put into making these events happen and I am incredibly thankful for the efforts that are made. I am simply advocating for a better way to present this information.
All of this leads me to the conclusion that all student organization events, as well as university-sponsored events, should be in one location that is constantly being updated and checked for accuracy. Attempts have been made at this, but all have been futile. A feature of UHart Hub was supposed to be a calendar, but it is clear that this has not been an effective way of spreading information either. Perhaps the university could sponsor the creation of a central portal that houses all events in a clear way that has
accurate description sections. This does not yet exist when it surely would solve a lot of issues. This website should not only be updated consistently but also simple to understand. It should be easy to navigate and accessible to all students. The creation of this kind of portal will make the student experience immensely better.
