Page 33 - Laker Connection Fall 2009

Student Life: The Later Years
By Jeff Jacobs
From the mid-1990s through the millen- nium and beyond, the campus saw a signifi- cant transformation of Student Life. Student Activities, officially re-
named the Office of Student Life in 1995, continued to grow and evolve while accomplishing its key mission of providing an array of social and learn- ing opportunities for students.
Dean Bo Bolander lead the charge for a revitalized orientation program by establishing the “Dean’s Team,” a se- lect group of student leaders who were charged with assisting new students during their “Day 2” orientation visit. Shortly thereafter, Clayton
State was offering a full-day, comprehensive introductory
program for new students
which included a concurrent
program for parents and
guests.
Laker Homecoming King and Queen Coronation Ceremony — occurring at halftime on the soccer field.
And, to this day, people still
By 2005, Student Life featured nearly 70 student organizations, offered an annual weekend leader- ship conference retreat for emerging student leaders, and promoted community service experiences through Volunteer Services. The stu- dent intramural program was reestablished along with a recreation component and featured such competitions as flag football, basketball, softball, and table tennis, as well as new sporting activi- ties such as paintball, white- water rafting, skiing, and rock climbing. At the start of each semester, students flocked to the In- volvement Fair and Marketplace event where they could discover all that was offered and connect with a host of cam-
pus organizations and local vendors. At our 40th-year mark, Student Life (now know as Campus Life) continues to engage students across the campus. Welcome Week, Alternative Spring Break, and The Wrecking Crew are just a few of the countless activities and events in which students participate. Furthermore, students can check out live streaming and on-location remotes through the Clayton State Internet Radio station, which is headed into its second year of operation. And with the opening of Laker Hall and approxi- mately 450 students living on campus — along with a state-of-the-art Student Ac- tivities Center — the future of student/cam-
pus life looks even more promising.
Jeff Jacobs is Clayton State Univer- sity’s Associate Dean of Students and the University’s former Director of Stu- dent Life.
talk about the surprise first place appearance of “The Village People” during the revived faculty/staff Fall Frolics talent show.
Along with the inaugu- ral fall Homecoming event came the University’s first homecoming parade which showcased floats and ban- ners by student organiza- tions, the Homecoming King/Queen Court, and other marching units from
Homecoming 2008
Volunteering at Alternative Spring Break 2009 in New York
Hanging out at the SAC
To compliment the
range of social activities,
Lyceum, a series of cultural enrichment programs, con-
tinued to offer the campus community the best in arts,
music, and theater entertain-
ment through Artist-in- Residence programs, Department of Music Opera productions, and an ex- pansive showcase of music artists fea- tured in Spivey Hall.
Additionally, Greek Life was estab- lished in 1998, with the chartering of several national fraternities and sorori- ties. Within 10 years, a total of six or- ganizations were governed by a Greek Council and had a major presence on campus.
In 2000, the first fall Homecoming took place. One of the highlights of this change was the new setting for the
the faculty, staff and com- munity participants.
As the University evolved and enrollment grew, so too did student extra-curricular activities. SGA would no longer devote its focus to planning the Uni- versity’s major student events. Rather, student government’s role shifted to addressing issues and con- cerns of the student body. Along with this change came the establishment of the Uni-
Greek life
versity’s student programming board, SLAC, the Student Life Activities Com- mittee. This student organization be- came the premiere programming organization on campus, and students were empowered more than ever to bring to campus a new generation of student activities including “coffee- house-style” music events and major concerts, comedy shows, dance parties and outdoor movies. Old favorites con- tinued such as the family night dinner and movie, casino night, and the tradi- tional Spring Fling.
FALL 2009 29