Next Saturday, Feb. 8, Lancer Productions, Black Student Association (BSA), the Office of Admissions, Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and the Office of Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) will team up to cater to prospective and current Longwood University students alike with the Crash on Campus, Slam Poet and Comedian.
Ashley Woodard, senior assistant director of Admissions for Transfer, described the event as a “multicultural student weekend.”
The weekend, which is in its second year, hosts about 50 students who have been accepted to Longwood.
Woodward said 42-43 students attended last year, with 75 percent of attendees eventually enrolling at the university.
Woodard said, “We advertise only to students basically that identify as non-white ... hoping to diversify the campus.”
However, she said, “If you value diversity and that’s something that’s of interest to you, we definitely want you to come to our campus and experience Longwood life.”
According to Woodard, ODI and RCL will recruit hosts for prospective students.
RCL will also keep in touch with prospective students throughout the weekend to ensure that their stay is pleasant.
Woodard said the weekend will also focus on academics with a mock lecture from the Department of English’s Dr. Lettner-Rust and Dr. Jonathan Page.
Woodard added that the parents of student who attend the weekend's events who live sixty or more miles away will be put in a hotel.
Woodard said the scheduled events can appeal to a general audience and “cross any population.”
Students who attended Crash on Campus last year attended BSA’s Poetry Slam before it was directly affiliated with Crash on Campus.
BSA President Jade Marable, who hosted the Poetry Slam last year, said she enjoyed “being able to interact with prospective students as well as current students.”
She added, “I was making jokes on the spot and calling people out, making them feel more comfortable amongst people they did not know as well as students and friends.”
Marable also enjoyed “how many readers were confident when they read their original poems and the diversity during the program.”
Alesha Johnson, also in BSA, added, "I would say the best part of the program is being able to interact with the students and tell them why we chose to attend Longwood and how amazing Longwood really is. For the high school seniors, the best part is being able to build connections and relationships with current students at Longwood before actually attending the school."
The prizes for the Poetry Slam include first, second and third.
The event will take place at 8 p.m. in Lankford Student Union.
Jeffrey Reason, president of Lancer Productions, said his organization is bringing the comedian to campus in order to have a "good time and a good laugh for the students."
He said it is a benefi that "future students can see the success that students already have here."
While Ty Barnett was the scheduled comedian at the time of The Rotunda's interview with Reason, Mo Amer will now be the featured comedian of the night.
Cinema/Comedy Director James Bardin will host the event. which will take place at 9 p.m. in the Student Union.
Reason believes that the comedian will benefit current students by bringing a "renewed sense ... just about the love of Longwood, 'cause these new students are definitely bringing new life to [the university."
Reason added that the comedian is a "way to use Lancer Prodcutions’ resources to get the word out there about ourselves ... hosting an event not just for students on campus as we usually do but potential future students."
He also added, "Any time Lancer Productions can support any type of activity that is there to better anyone or show new students about Longwood, we are 100 percent right behind it."
Ultimately, the event will bring together both current Longwood University students and prospective students for an opportunity to learn from each other and enjoy the events sponsored by university offices and organizations.
