Lesley Brey

Staff Writer

Out of all the things we’ve come to miss this year, none has left a gap quite like Idaho State University’s homecoming. For the freshmen who have been so cruelly deprived, let me paint a picture. In the week leading up to the game, the campus would be alive with constant activity; s’mores parties, bonfires, chili cook-offs and the like. The excitement would become a near tangible cloud, hovering in the space between students and staff alike.

Finally, Saturday would arrive, and you would roll out of bed early in the chilly morning to try and find a good spot along the parade route that traveled from old town all the way to Holt Arena. Year after year, the streets lined with spectators packed shoulder to shoulder. Pocatello en mass would turn out for the chance to grab candy and marvel at the dozens of floats (last year there was even a tank) that proudly proclaimed: We are the ISU Bengals, and we are going to win!

At Holt Arena a tailgate party would already be brewing, students would be lining up for some of that excellent stadium food. Once the parade concluded, everyone would rush to grab a seat; the stands would become a sea of black and orange. Although we are always supportive of the athletes, homecoming was on another level. You would be able to hear the cheers of our student body from half-way across the parking lot.

Without our yearly traditions, ISU has felt a little empty, but that hasn’t stopped the Student Activities Board (SAB) from doing everything in their power to keep spirits high in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the SAB website, its mission is “…to inspire campus pride by promoting student involvement, self-growth, unity and tradition within all of the events we coordinate.” The board is comprised of four members and a director, all students.

The SAB is responsible for planning and managing homecoming, along with the start of the year favorites like the Paint Party (where students gathered to be hosed down with paint) as well as recurring events like bingo and themed dances. It would be impossible to imagine campus without them.

“What I’m trying to do is provide students with opportunities to go to more than just their classes. Maybe they can come to an event in the evening and have fun with other students, get to know people they wouldn’t have [otherwise],” said SAB director Ben Storms, who is a senior this year.

Storms has worked with the SAB for two years, however, this is his first year as director, a challenge he took on knowing the difficulties that COVID-19 would present. And present them it has. Alongside getting the approval of the advisory board for the SAB, potential events now must also be cleared by a health committee. Any event which people would stay at such as bingo, students have to preregister to ensure that crowd size does not exceed guidelines. This is in conjunction with mask requirements and social distancing.  Understandably, this has restricted the number of events the SAB can host this year.

“With event planning, the big part that I stress is: will students come to this? Do they want to do this? How can it be achieved? Is it realistic with guidelines going on right now? Is it safe for students, is it safe for everyone? We want to make sure we’re not putting anyone in any harm or in an uncomfortable situation,” said Storms.

Just like the rest of us, the SAB is waiting anxiously to see if we’ll stay on campus for the rest of the semester, especially as COVID-19 cases increase.  However, in the event we do have to move online, we won’t be deprived of SAB functions. The spring semester presented a trial-by-fire situation, which taught valuable lessons on how to engage with students virtually. The game plan involves a variety of things being conducted over Zoom, pictures competitions and other online events.

The SAB is committed to student health and safety and they’re intent on continuing to provide services no matter what obstacles they may face.

“The one thing I want to make sure is that SAB still keeps that same energy in putting on events for students. It’s definitely a difficult time for students and we want to help out in any way that’s possible,” Storms said.

If you want to check upcoming events or get involved with the SAB you can check out their website at https://www.isu.edu/sab/.