This past Wednesday night, Ouachita students volunteered their time to help campus get into the Christmas spirit. The Campus Activities Board, or CAB, spent weeks brainstorming how they could bring students together to celebrate Christmas in an entertaining and unique way. In preparing for the annual Christmas party, Gracen Kelley, a senior speech pathology major from Kansas City, Mo., who is CAB’s student chair, along with the members of CAB met with Tim Harrell, director of Campus Activities, and Stacey Perry, CAB’s staff sponsor, to make a concrete plan and gather supplies.
CAB’s main purpose and goal is to provide fun and exciting events for students to attend on campus. Their events allow for a nice study break or to occupy some free time in a student’s schedule. CAB wants to show students that there are ways to have fun on campus and that they don’t have to go home every weekend. Most events take place on the weekends, but many times throughout each semester you can find something going on that is short and sweet.
Kelley has been a part of CAB for three years and has served as the student chair for one and half years. Her job is lead the students involved in CAB in making decisions for each event. She also works with Perry to create a semester schedule of events. For each event over the years Kelley has enjoyed planning and putting the effort into creating successful and entertaining time for students.
“I became interested in joining CAB during my freshman year when I realized I need to get more involved,” Kelley said. “I figured I would give CAB a try and I am so glad that I did.”
Just as Kelley is invested and enthusiastic about serving the campus through CAB, so are the other members. Without a team of committed students who have devoted time and effort out of their own schedule CAB would not be able to put on their events. Students are able to join CAB throughout the year as well.
“Students can be involved in CAB by becoming a member,” Kelley said. “This can be by coming to meetings, working during events, braining storming and organizing for each event as well as attending.”
This strategy and teamwork is exactly what was implanted in organizing the Christmas party and allowed for students to engage in a great holiday event. At the party students were able to make crafts, write a letter to Santa Claus, color a festive coloring page, or drink hot chocolate.
Several professors were also involved in the Christmas party. Dr. Faught, professor of management, was dressed as Santa Claus for picture taking and Ace Collins, esteemed local author, as well as Dr. Barbara Pemberton, professor of Christian studies shared some of their favorite parts of Christmas.
“Ace Collins and Dr. Pemberton read some of their favorite Christmas stores and Ace told us about how some of our favorite Christmas songs came about,” Kelley said.
With the semester ending, CAB has finished its campus events for the semester but has plenty more in store for when students arrive back to school in January. These events will resemble some favorites from the fall semester as well as introduce some new events for the year.
“Next semester we have even more events planned and will get started on organizing them when we get back in January,” Kelley said. “Some of next semester’s events include movies nights, a trivia night, a coffeehouse performance, Spring Fling, and the Glow Run 5k that serves as a fundraisers for PATH (Partners Against Trafficking Humans).”
CAB is always interested in bringing in new members to the club. If you are interested in learning more about CAB and how you can serve students you can speak to Kelley or attend one of their biweekly meetings posted on Ouachita’s online calendar.
“Cab has impacted my time at OBU in such positive ways,” Kelley said. “It has given me the opportunity to be involved in campus activities and in the planning of those events. Not only that, but it has allowed me to grow more as a person and a leader.”
“I have met so many people through being involved and have grown to be more extroverted. I would definitely encourage people to get involved with CAB. It is a great way to meet new people, be involved in some pretty amazing events on campus and get away from the craziness that academics can bring,” Kelley added.
By Sydney Bratton
