James Fox, Campus Carrier deputy news editor
Emma Bellantoni, Campus Carrier staff writer
The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) works to create student life events that help and support students. These events are aimed at helping students unwind and connect with the community. At the beginning of the semester, OSI experienced a change in leadership.
Brittani Farmer, a Berry College alumna, has taken over the role as the Director of Student Involvement. In her role, she is looking forward to being a part of the Marthapalooza committee.
“I am excited to get to know all of the students that work within the OSI and across campus,” Farmer said.
“Kind of refamiliarize myself with everything and get to know everyone and what they love about Berry, how their experience has been and what I can do to make their time here better.”
In previous years, OSI has hosted “De-Stress Fest” and the “Barbie” movie drive-in. They also create the stall wall flyers that are seen in bathrooms and manage campus transportation.
“[OSI] is responsible for all sorts of things,” Farmer said. “Ranging from the information desk in Krannert that services students and guests, lost and found, selling tickets for different events and activities, providing promotions and giveaways. There is our marketing and events team that is responsible for Pack the House events, and then KCAB, the Krannert Center Activities Board, who plans events and activities across campus.”
Farmer said OSI offers a lot of events for students to attend and enjoy during both semesters.
“Some of our major events for the fall are going to be the Mountain Day Olympics,” Farmer said.
“Marthapalooza, of course, the Monster and Busters, which is like a little arcade-style event that’s going to be Halloween themed this year at the end of October. For spring, we’ll have Casino Night, which is a popular one and formal.”
This past year, the OSI took over Pack the Houses for sports, which had originally been under KCAB. OSI is putting more energy towards attracting students to Pack the House events this year.
Hannah Bell, the Student Director of Events and Promotions, believes that OSI’s focus this year is to invest more in the Pack the House events attract the attention of more students to gain attendance.
“This year we have a little more understanding of what students want at the Pack the Houses,” Bell said. “Hopefully those run a little more smoothly and end up being a lot more fun for students, and we’re excited to bring out a lot of new stuff for those.”
OSI is coordinating more with coaches this year, including the women’s and men’s soccer teams.
“We’re hoping to get it more based around the students and what the sports teams want to represent and what the students want from it,” Bell said.
Senior Emma Clark, student director of engagement, is excited for a new organization to begin at Berry. Clark recently gave clearance for an official student section to get started.
“[Students] reached out to us and wanted to start partnering with Pack the Houses together,” Clark said. “So, it will be cool to see the student section aspect come together with our departmental aspect of the Pack the Houses.”
There is a Pack the House for every sport on the schedule, whether it is for fall or being worked on for spring. This year, a few of the Pack the Houses will have themes.
Junior Mallory Johnson attended the Cross-Country’s Pack the House for their equal distance meet. She believes events like these are a good way to gain attention for sports.
“I feel like Pack the Houses — especially this year — they’re doing a really good job at getting it out there,” Johnson said. “I’ve actually never been to a pack the house for cross country — specifically before this past weekend — and I’m very excited for the upcoming ones as well.”
Johnson, who has not attended many Pack the Houses in the past, said the event is a good way to get students who are interested involved.
“There’s always going to be those people that don’t really care to go just because it’s sports, whether it’s Pack the House or not, they’re not going to want to go,” Johnson said. “But for the people that don’t know there is a sport or game that weekend, I feel like the Pack the Houses will definitely spark interest in those that want to go.”