Beating the winter blues
Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan
Chantel Whitman is hoping a lot of students will turn up at this year’s events.
January 25, 2012 6:00 AM ADT
The UNB Student Union attempted to reach all students with its Winter Carnival this year.
The week-long festivities feature a wide array of events, chosen with the hopes that all students will partake.
“I just want people to enjoy the events,” vice-president student services Chantel Whitman said in an interview. “I’m not just going for one specific group of people; [I’m looking for] something for everyone.”
“So hopefully people show up to these events.”
The Student Union welcomed hypnotist and illusionist, Wayne Hoffman on Monday, and on Tuesday a mechanical bull was featured in the SUB Cafeteria. The bull was part of a contest, where the rider who stayed on the longest won a trip to New York City for March Break.
Other highlights include a free movie night at Empire Theatres for a showing of ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’ tonight, though there is limited seating, and the Arkells show in the SUB Ballroom at 9 p.m. on Feb. 1.
“I just wanted to make it bigger than it’s been in the past few years,” Whitman said. “I know a lot of schools have a Winterfest or Dalfest. It’s just more of a whole week-long of activities to do for students.”
“I’m just trying to make it the best that it can be.”
Of the events planned for the Carnival, only three come with a price tag for the students. All other events are free to UNB students.
The event does not break even, financially, Whitman said; they lose money hosting it. “It’s not a revenue making event … It’s for students to enjoy.”
With this looming loss, Whitman hopes for high participation from students. “I know that for past events that I’ve had, I’ve always been worried that students won’t be engaged but they’ve shown up, which surprises me.”
“So I’m hoping there’s going to be a lot of people showing up to these events too. We’re trying to get students engaged and getting the word out there on what’s coming up for this weekend, for the semester, for the future. We’re trying to promote everything as much as we can.”
While there have been anywhere from 500 to 800 students at the concerts last semester, Whitman acknowledges that different events draw different people. This acknowledgement was influential on the designing of the Winter Carnival.
“Not every event is for everybody. That’s why I did a variety of different things this term and for the Winter Carnival. So, hopefully, it will attract more people and get them involved,” Whitman said.
The Student Union sent out an email on December 15, asking students what they wanted from the events. According to Whitman, students were looking for more laid-back events such as movie night.
To combat rumours that the Student Union doesn’t provide enough events, they upped the entertainment budget and brought in two concerts last semester and other activities including Yuk Yuks. This semester, besides Winter Carnival, they hope to bring a major concert to campus.
The Winter Carnival wraps up on Feb. 1 with the Arkells concert in the SUB Ballroom. Tickets are $15 in advance and $25 at the door for students. This is a wet event.
For more information about the Winter Carnival, please go to: http://www.unbsu.ca/content/246161.
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