7220 Entertainment adapts to COVID-19 and emphasizes function of student volunteers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LARAMIE– During a regular school year, 7220 Entertainment hosts events to bring leisure to students at University of Wyoming. After the COVID-19 outbreak, 7220 Entertainment adjusted their events to better operate during the pandemic while providing the UW student population with fun events.
“I feel like they do a lot for the campus that a lot of students don’t even realize what they’re doing,” said Simon Talcott, a student volunteer with 7220 Entertainment’s Club Events branch. “There are a lot of benefits that students can get from it, even if they are not aware of them.”
Before COVID-19, 7220 Entertainment presented many different events during the school year. The types of events varied from large sized trivia nights to small scale concerts in the Union Gardens. Some events involved students from the University.
“We did over 70 plus events during a typical year,” said Amanda Kuster, Student Activities Coordinator for 7220 Entertainment. “We’d have lectures and art shows with different students and film festivals. There’s just so many.”
The pandemic has required 7220 Entertainment to change its event roster to comply with COVID-19 limitations. This has caused most events to be moved to an electronic format with focus around using services like Zoom and Twitch to connect with audiences.
“Since the pandemic happened, we had to alter the format and adjust a lot of the events to be virtual.” said Aliea Ednie, Club Events Coordinator, 7220 Entertainment. “We are still trying to provide similar events that are online in addition to completely creating new events.”
The transition to a digital structure and design of events is challenging to 7220 Entertainment. One of the disadvantages of moving to an online format is decreased knowledge and engagement in new activities.
“It has been a difficult transition,” said Ednie. “Participation at events have been low and overall awareness about different events happening has been down.”
Another side effect of COVID-19 which hinders 7220 Entertainment is an increased difficulty in recruitment. Recruitment is very important for 7220 Entertainment. Student volunteers are an integral part to how 7220 Entertainment produces events.
“Volunteers are essential for creating and executing events,” said Ednie. “Without their help, 7220 Entertainment could not produce a number of large or high-quality events.”
The events which 7220 Entertainment presents are one of its better ways of promoting itself and attracting new student volunteers.
“I learned about 7220 primarily through the events that they were putting on before I joined,” said Talcott. “I had wanted to join for a while even before I did but couldn’t because my schedule got in the way of a lot of it.”
Much of the work that is done creating and organizing events is done by student volunteers. Student volunteers assist in the process of brainstorming new events for 7220 Entertainment to host. They also participate in the actual events in various roles.
“I think one really similar thing that all of them have in common is the leadership that is behind each of them is run by students,” said Kuster. “It’s still facilitated and coordinated and made logistically sound by University of Wyoming students.”
The events that 7220 Entertainment hosts are important because they allow UW students to enjoy themselves and have fun with each other while under restrictive circumstances. The ability to experience fun is important to the mental health of students.
“Some people just think, ‘Oh fun, that’s not necessary. You don’t need that in your life.’ But that’s a really big mental health concern.” said Kuster.”
As COVID-19 restrictions are removed, lessons from the time spent under the restrictions will influence decisions about future events. The changes made during COVID-19 will carry over to more relaxed times and likely affect decisions.
“I think we’ll return to the in-person events, but we’ll have a different mindset,” Kuster said. “I think you’ll see a lot of innovation come from COVID-19 times.”
For more information about the events produced by 7220 Entertainment and how to become involved, visit the 7220 Entertainment Facebook page or other social media platform or email 7220 Entertainment at StudentOrgs@uwyo.edu.
James Meyer 