Take A Ride With CAB
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Senior Trevor Maloch (left), of Corona, Calif., and sophomore
Zachary Adomanis, of Bowie, Md., take the bungee run challenge.
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McKendree’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) is
one of the most eventful organizations at McKendree; planning and executing alternative and diverse social, recreational, multicultural, and educational events for both the campus and community. CAB is responsible for over 125 events on and off campus throughout the calendar year. The events vary in size and attendance from comedians to Homecoming. Larger events are open to students, alumni and surrounding communities.
Craig Robertson, director of campus activities and director of intramural sports and recreation, has advised McKendree’s CAB since 2004.
“Involvement in campus activities enhances students’ college experience,” said Robertson. “Participation in the various events supplements classroom learning and builds a connection and pride in the school. We want to get students invested in McKendree.”
CAB has a core staff of approximately 25 students and many more who volunteer to assist with individual events. These students, ranging from first-year to senior, are plugged-in to the pulse of the campus. They are usually involved in two or more other groups and are representative of the areas of concentration: marketing, promotions, art, business, education, music and communications.
Robertson understands student schedules and works to keep CAB’s meetings and programs flexible.
“We know that not all students will be able to make all the meetings. We just ask they stay committed and up to date on the meeting notes and actions. We want students to feel connected and productive,” said Robertson. “We want them to be engaged for the long term.”
CAB is steered by an executive board and general members. The executive board is made up of the president and committee chairs: Traditions; Team Bogey-School Spirit; Off-Campus Programs; Films, Issues and Ideas; Music and Comedy; Novelties; and Marketing and Promotions. These committees work to book performers, advertise and produce the events.
The Traditions committee is a collaboration of the entire executive board, and is responsible for planning annual large-scale events on campus. Those events include: Bearcat Week, Fall Family Weekend, Homecoming and Spring Fling.
Team Bogey supports the pep band and cheerleaders in rallying team spirit and creating a home court/field buzz at McKendree sporting events. Team Bogey also assists getting Bogey to the games. This year all first-year students were provided a purple shirt and invited to join team Bogey in the “Purple Pit” at basketball and football games.
“We try and centralize a group of students to rally the teams,” said Robertson.
Senior Samanath Quick, an organizational communication major from Sesser, Ill., chairs the Team Bogey-School Spirit committee.
“We want every student out there supporting our teams and showing school pride at home games and on the road,” Quick said.
The Off-Campus Programs committee develops and implements trips to local area attractions including shopping trips and St. Louis excursions. St. Louis Cardinals games, trips to the zoo and discounted trips to the Muny and Fox Theatre in St. Louis have been organized by the group. This committee also programs children and family movie nights, storytelling events and family-friendly trips to area attractions.
Films, Issues and Ideas committee is responsible for providing students with information about current issues and a forum for discussion. This committee also brings speakers to campus and hosts interactive events including the “Teach Me Tuesday” series where participants can learn various skills taught by students, faculty and staff or guest presenters. These programs provide students with educational, entertaining and diverse messages. This committee also
plans free entertainment, including a wide variety of pre-released and first-run films.
The Music and Comedy committee is responsible for scheduling comedians and music acts for each semester. McKendree has hosted such notable comedians as Kyle Cease, Jon Reep “The Hemi Guy” and Mark Curry (“Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper”). The committee also plans “Open Mic,” a coffeehouse event that highlights McKendree talent, and “LIVE!” events that showcase touring and local performers.
The Novelties committee coordinates a series of events called Wild Wednesdays, which feature activities on select Wednesday afternoons and late nights. Novelty events include inflatable games, hypnotists and activities like pumpkin carving. This committee also hosts “Stress
Fest” at the end of each semester.
The Marketing and Promotions committee keeps a visual archive of the events, meetings and activities. Members of this committee also work closely with CAB staff artists, committee chairs and agencies to assure that the CAB name and schedule is promoted around campus.
One of the golden rules of marketing is to go to your customers. CAB follows this rule by having an immense presence on Facebook.com. Robertson overheard fellow attendees talking about
Facebook at a conference a few years ago and knew he had to utilize this e-community forum. CAB has established an online group and invites students, faculty, staff and alumni to join.
“With Facebook, we send out invitations and receive more direct feedback and better attendance at events. Facebook also provides more information for the end users. If they see their friends are
attending an event then they are more likely to attend as well,” said Robertson.
Many McKendree staff, faculty and alumni are active on Facebook and are included in the online invitations.
“McKendree Idol,” a breast cancer awareness and fundraising event hosted by CAB and sorority Kappa Lambda Iota, illustrates the breadth of student involvement on campus. Students are engaged on all sides of this event—as promoters, performers and production staff. Facebook is used to recruit participants and to invite students, staff, faculty and alumni to support the event.
“McKendree Idol’ has been phenomenal the last couple years. We held the event in the Hett last year and practically filled the place. That is a very pleasing crowd for a student event,” Robertson said.
Robertson highlights the work CAB members contribute through recognition and award system with prizes that include CAB gear, like T-shirts and sweatshirts, which help promote CAB. Members also enjoy meeting and dining with famous comedians, lecturers and musicians and attend exclusive CAB member events like bowling and movie nights.
Students involved in CAB broaden their university experience with the opportunity to learn and apply transferable skills. The staff has opportunities to develop leadership abilities, improve communication and time-management proficiency and enjoy the satisfaction of making a difference on campus.
“Students get the opportunity to have real work experience with graphic design, event planning, event production and working in a group atmosphere. They also have the chance to go to conferences,” Robertson said.
CAB is a member of two associations: National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) and Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA). NACA links the higher education and
entertainment communities in a business and learning partnership, creating educational and business opportunities for students and professionals. APCA is a national campus activities organization that services the needs of campus activities programming departments throughout the country.
“These conferences are fun, educational events yielding great benefits for McKendree students,” said Robertson.
This past spring Quick earned a spot at the NACA Mid-America Regional Leadership Conference in Peoria, Ill. She was chosen based upon a number of criteria including her commitment to
the organization, enthusiasm, attitude, interest in personal and intellectual development, and ability to represent the values of McKendree. The conference provided an opportunity for Quick to
meet and speak with performers, industry representatives, and students from a number of schools around the country.
“It was awesome,” Quick said. “We learned different ways to increase retention among our members, fundraising techniques and strategies on recruiting more students to get involved.”
“We play as hard as we work. We are a tight knit group and have a lot of fun together, but we also learn through our programming and the conferences,” said Robertson.
One of Robertson’s goals is to have students take away something they have learned from their involvement. He believes this sets CAB apart from other organizations on campus.
Nationally-touring comedians, guest speakers, live music, including The Harlem Gospel Choir—a joint presentation with McKendree’s Spotlight Series, stress fest, Spring Fling and other events give McKendree students a campus where they can learn, connect and have fun.