The Department of Student Activities, within the Missouri Students Association, hosted a series of event programming for the first time in summer 2011.
“This summer was the first summer in a while that there was a concentrated effort putting on consistent events,” Senior Film Committee Chairwoman Callie Lockhart said.
Lockhart said in previous summers, the only events were one or two films, if any at all.
DSA Summer Interim Director Amanda Gastler said in summer 2009 the organizations tried to put on a concert, but it had to be canceled due to weather. She said they might try to put on a smaller concert next summer.
DSA showed six free films throughout the summer on Lowry Mall. The films were “Fast 5,” “Source Code,” “Arthur,” “HOP,” “Red Riding Hood” and “Paul.”
“’Red Riding Hood’ was the most highly-attended film,” Lockhart said.
More than 1,175 people were in attendance during DSA’s summer events. Between 375 and 425 people attended the “Red Riding Hood” showing alone.
Three travel events were co-sponsored by the Department of Student Life. Gastler said the trip to a St. Louis Cardinals game sold out with about 50 students attending. The trip to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City to see the Monet Water Lilies exhibit also sold out with the same number of students. There was also a successful trip to the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City.
Woods said the trips were a completely new thing.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the attendance,” Gastler said about the films and trips. “We didn’t know what to expect.”
Gastler wasn’t the only one not expecting such a turnout.
“I was actually really surprised,” MSA President Eric Woods said.
Woods said he was skeptical about the success of the events at first, but once people started coming to the films and the trips started selling out, he knew the programs would be successful.
“We found that programming was a good idea in the summer because there’s a lot of students looking for something to do,” Gastler said.
Lockhart said the organizations are hoping to continue similar programming next summer. Gastler also said they are planning on showing films again and doing some trips, though the specific trips might change.
Woods said there is a proposal in the works to provide a budget for summer events. This summer, the money for the programming came from the Department of Student Life and what was left over from the DSA yearly budget.
“The plan in the future is to set aside some money specifically for summer programs,” Woods said.
DSA is responsible for concerts, comedians, speakers, films and special events throughout the year. The six committees of DSA are the Speakers Committee, the Films Committee, the College Music Committee, the Black Programming Committee, the International Programming Committee and the Special Events Committee.
“DSA is the largest part of MSA in terms of budget and manpower,” Woods said. “Their main goal is to provide entertainment for students.”