FOCUS: It's a no show

The Student Planning and Events Committee held an introductory meeting earlier this month for students interested in planning the annual Spring Fling extravaganza. Committee members said they wanted to attract 75 "good" people to help them choose bands, games and activities for the weekend-long party in April. Usually, that's easy. In past years this meeting has drawn over 100 volunteers. This year, only 20 people attended the meeting. Assistant Director of Student Life Kathy Krautter and other organizers blamed the small turnout on poor advertising. "We didn't do as well as we could have with the publicity," Krautter said after the meeting. "We're going to try again." SPEC did try again last week, and drew 50 people this time, still far short of the number the organization needed. And SPEC is not alone. While most student leaders are not vocal about the dwindling support in their organizations, many agree that the number of students willing to spend a significant portion of their time in a certain activity has seriously declined. "From my overall experience watching student involvement in student activities, the level of time commitments is down across the board," Fran Walker, director of student life activities and facilities, said this month. "I think it's a nationwide problem -- I hear the same thing from my colleagues at other institutions." · In the past month alone, several other organizations have suffered because of a lack of student interest and participation in events or in the groups themselves. · Last month, the Undergraduate Assembly held its bi-annual elections, hoping to draw eight freshman representatives and two Wharton representatives. While several freshman applicants ran for their positions, UA members were disappointed at the turnout from Wharton students. Only one student ran for the two slots. UA Chairperson Jeff Lichtman, a College senior, said last week that while organizations try hard to advertise their events, students must take some responsibility for looking for activities to pursue. "We and the [Nominations and Elections Committee] did as much as we could to advertise the fact that there was a [Wharton] spot there," he said. "At some point, the responsibility falls on the students to take action. The student body has to meet the people who get involved half way . . . we need people to make an effort." · Last week, a forum to promote the installation of a new Asian American Studies program was held at the University. Organizers of the meeting, which featured four panelists, said that student support was essential for the program to succeed. Only nine students attended the meeting. Eun Jung Kim, a College senior, said she was very disappointed with the turnout. She also said she was worried that the few Asian American Studies courses that currently exist would be cancelled without student backing. "A lot of time people tend to think, 'If I don't do it someone else will.' A lot of people at Penn have the tendency to think that way [so] no one shows up," Kim said. "You have to make your voice heard, otherwise you won't get what you want." · Administrators and student leaders offer several reasons why low student turnout is more prevalent on campus than in past years. One possibility, they say, is that students are more concerned with their schoolwork than in the past so they have less time for extra-curricular activities. "I think that students today are very anxious about what's going to happen once they leave Penn -- more anxious than students 10 years ago or even five years ago," Walker said last week. Melanie Brownrout, chairperson of NEC, said she thinks this is the principle reason why there were so few UA candidates. She said that Wharton students in particular "are really scared about the job market out there," and added that while some students "just want to have a good time" in college, most concentrate on getting good grades. "A lot of people are really scared about what's going to happen when they graduate," the College senior said. "[There is a] feeling that they can't afford to make that vast time commitment because they have to spend time in the library or doing research or taking that sixth class." UA Chairperson Lichtman echoed Brownrout, saying that for many students, academics are the sole priority at college. "Academics are so stressed here that it's difficult to get a fair number of students involved," he said. "It's not like there's no one out there. As academically rigorous as this school is, you're always going to have the people who aren't going to have the time." · Another reason for low student involvement may be that students are willing to participate in activities until they have to make a significant time commitment. According to student leaders, organizations often have no problem attracting students to meetings and rallies, but they do have trouble finding students who are willing to donate more time. Walker said she thinks this is why the number of Wharton UA applicants was so small. "It's a very heavy time commitment," she said. "I hear the same thing is happening in many organizations -- in other words, I hear this from students." Stephanie Newman, president of the Kite and Key Society, said her organization attracts mainly underclassmen because they have not yet experienced the problems of time constraints. In contrast, Newman said upperclassmen face obstacles such as "harder classes . . . plus more classes, plus looking for a job." "There's not a whole lot of time," the College and Wharton senior said. "It's an issue of time . . . not a lack of interest." Assistant Director of Student Life Programs Bob Schoenberg said he agrees, and added that there is an enormous difference between high school and college participation. "If you talk to the admissions office you'll find out that students who come to Penn have participated in an incredibly large number of activities in high school," Schoenberg said. "I would speculate that it's more of a time constraint [in college]." Schoenberg also said he feels that when students do have free time they do not always use it efficiently. "They might be more inclined to engage in activities that they may perceive as completely relaxing [such as] partying more," he said. "The two basic activities unfortunately might be studying hard and playing hard, which might not leave . . . much time for volunteer work or involvement in student organizations." · Unlike high school students who often join many organizations so they can list them on college applications, University students often join only one activity and devote more time to it. Schoenberg said he thinks that there are two different types of students who choose to be involved in extra-curricular activities. "Some people have gotten the advice that the more activities they're involved in, the better it looks on their resume . . . [but then they] can't get involved in any one to any great depth," he said. "On the other hand, there are people in their limited time who choose to be involved in only one [activity] . . . and have a significant leadership role or significant impact on that one." Assistant Director of Recreation Terry Horstmann, who is also in charge of intramural sports at the University, said she thinks students have simply chosen to participate in other activities, and that they do not have additional time for intramural sports anymore. Horstmann also said that while the number of teams participating in men's and co-ed intramural sports is "about the same or slighty above" past years, women's teams are "absolutely non-existent." · Service-oriented activities seem to be the only type of organizations which are still attracting participants at an equal or higher rate than in past years. "Lots of people believe that we are in an era that is moving more and more towards service and supportive service," said Peggy Curchack, assistant director for the College at Career Planning and Placement Services. "[It is like] going back to the '60s where people are activists and involved." Newman said Kite and Key, a campus service and community involvement organization, has not suffered this year from a lack of participation, and that membership in the organization has actually increased. "If you compare our September meeting last year to this year, there are a lot more people that we expected," she said. "We've had so many people volunteer for this." And Curchack said she thinks that participation at the University is still at a stable level, although she is skeptical about some students' motives. "I don't think that extra-curricular participation is up, but it sure isn't down. I really see Penn kids very involved," she said. "[But] I don't see it all as altruistic. Some of it is related to 'if I'm involved in X-Y-Z it will help my chances [in getting a job].' "