Jenna Crowe
Staff Writer
Boredom can be an epidemic among young people. However, ISU offers students solutions for boredom by way of various campus activities.
“My first year I went to any event,” said junior Makayla Muir, the president of the Associated Students of Idaho State University.
One resource at ISU that offers many campus activities is the Outdoor Adventure Center located on the first floor of the Student Union Building. Many of the activities the OAC offers can be found on its website.
On Aug. 30, students are invited to try open horseback riding in a covered arena at Sweet Talk Ranch from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Horses, tack and helmets are provided for all riders, and everyone from beginners to seasoned riders are welcome. There must be a minimum of six riders in each group, and a max of 12 riders. Long pants and sturdy shoes are required for all riders, as well as their own method of transportation.
For students with family in town, riders must be at least eight years old. Students must sign up by 2 p.m. on Aug. 29 by calling the Sweet Talk Ranch at (208) 604-2302. The cost for ISU students and members of the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group is $10, whereas ISU affiliates pay $13. All fees must be payable to Sweet Talk Ranch, and if needed there are horseback riding scholarships for riders with disabilities. For more information about the scholarship, contact the CW HOG in the OAC.
The OAC also offers an open climbing wall session on Thursday evenings starting at 5 p.m. in Reed Gym. This session is designed for those who have climbing experience and are comfortable with climbing. Ropes and equipment are provided for free to ISU students.
ISU affiliates and community members can purchase a season pass for $20, while a day pass is only $2 and all children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
The Bengal Theater also plays movies throughout the year. The current showings are The Man Who Knew Infinity, which shows Aug. 28 starting at 3 p.m, and Love & Friendship, showing on Sept. 11 starting at 3 p.m.
The Student Activities Board offers many events on campus, such as bingo night, which is hosted once a month. While bingo may not sound very interesting, it is worth a student’s time because many of the available prizes are things that students often need.
The Aug. 27 paint party is put on by the SAB, and all students are encouraged to wear ISU gear. The party goes from 7 to 10:30 p.m. in the quad, and any student wearing ISU gear can be entered in a raffle for the grand prize of a black light tiger poster.
The SAB is hosting a cross country tailgate on Sept. 1. The tailgate will be at the quad, and starts at 11:30 a.m. Students are invited to come out and support the cross country team before it competes against Southern Utah.
Movies on the quad are also hosted by the SAB. On Sept. 9. Students are advised to start coming to the quad around 7 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. showing of The Good Dinosaur. Snacks are not a guarantee, so students should bring their own popcorn.
For those with family visiting in September, a family game night is being hosted on Sept. 16. Bring family members to the Little Wood River Room at 5:30 p.m. for an evening of family-friendly games and activities.
Harry Potter lovers will gather on Sept. 20 for a quidditch match. Witness a favorite moment from one of America’s favorite novels come to life from 1 to 4 p.m. on Cadet Field, between Rendezvous and Reed Gym. Whether rooting for Gryffindor or Slytherin, students are sure to enjoy themselves.
While these are just some of the SAB events that are occurring this fall, students should be on the lookout for SAB event banners for more events throughout the year.
In addition, there are a variety of clubs on campus, at least one of which is bound to grab a student’s attention. One of these is ISU’s Greek life. Greek life at ISU is not as prominent as on some campuses throughout the state, but it is possibly one of the most involved organizations on campus. There are many different sororities and fraternities available. Students are encouraged to participate in rush week in September.
“It’s a great opportunity to get involved and meet people,” Muir said.
Another way to get involved is through intramural sports. These teams are not as competitive or serious as collegiate sports, and are open to all students regardless of skill level.
ASISU hosts events throughout the year, including the ISU Ambush on Sept. 17. This 5K is open for all students, and runners are allowed to participate in groups of four to seven students.
This event, the main fundraiser for ASISU, distributes a large majority of the money raised to projects to promote school pride. For example, the money raised in past years went towards the “Bengal Eyes” art installation that is on display at the Rendezvous complex.
The Union Program Council also hosts student events on campus to help promote the social side of college life.
“People underrate the importance of the social aspect of college,” said senior Jedd Greenhalgh, the student director of the UPC.
“We provide students with a drug and alcohol free opportunity to really enjoy themselves and get more connected with campus and their peers,” Greenhalgh said.
The UPC, along with the SAB, promote volunteering within the local community and ISU. For all students searching for volunteer opportunities, feel free to email the UPC and SAB offices.
The UPC offers many interactive events throughout the semester, the first of which is the Late Night Luau, which will kick off the UPC late night events. All late night events take place at 9 p.m. at the SUB, starting with the Late Night Luau during the Week of Welcome on Aug. 26. The first 100 students to show up will also win prizes such as free leis.
At the Late Night Luau, the UPC will also be hosting a raffle, where the larger prizes include a Bengal fridge and a mountain bike. Many other prizes geared toward college students will be up for grabs.
“We love giving away TVs,” said Greenhalgh.
Students may have seen advertisements for messy twister around campus. Messy twister is going to take place Sept. 7 on the quad at 5 p.m. Students are encouraged to wear something that they wouldn’t mind getting paint on, and be prepared to get messy. There are two awards, one given to the messiest and one given to the actual winner of the tournament.
“[Wearing] white is highly recommended,” said Greenhalgh.
Mark your calendars for Sept. 16. Students can participate in the late night inflatable blowout party. This night gives students a chance to re-live their childhood through the giant fun houses and ball pits that the UPC is renting. As with all late night events, this will be at 9 p.m. at the SUB.
“It’s sort of like being a kid again,” said Greenhalgh.
While boredom may be on the rise, ISU students have countless opportunities to break the cycle and get involved in something new.
