Even though some people attend each Ryley dance, Cindy Efinger, Director of Student Activities, and the Student Activities Board (SAB) have noticed attendance rates are dwindling. Thus, SAB plans to implement minor changes based primarily on student input to increase dance attendance and popularity. Sherene Davidson ’07, Coordinator of Cluster Events, said that although the events this year are similar to ones in the past, they will be “taken to a higher level.” SAB’s main focus is improving the Ryley dances, which some students cannot live without. SAB has currently scheduled about three dances a month. Some, such as the ’70s and ’80s themed dances, did not have very strong turnout and are therefore being considered for review. The board will either change the theme of the dance, switch locations, use a popular student DJ, or even replace the dance with another event. However popular dances, like the “glow-light” and Halloween dance, as well as the more traditional dances like Sadie Hawkins and Blue and Silver, are here to stay. For example, last week the student coordinators worked hard to find a good DJ for the Video Dance. This year’s DJ played newer songs and showed more current videos. While last year’s DJ played some dated songs like the “Macarena” and “Cotton-Eyed Joe,” this year’s DJ brought night-vision cameras that projected students as they danced in Borden Gym on wide screens. Instead of the traditional Quad Day during the first closed weekend back on campus, SAB hosted Cluster Day in an attempt to include all students on campus. While Quad Day aimed to raise money for individual dorms in just West Quad South and West Quad North, Cluster Day was more about Cluster spirit and healthy competition. While the infamous Taylor Hall kissing booth remained, volleyball, human foosball, and club sign-ups were added to the list of activities. “Cluster Day is a completely new idea which I hope will appeal to students. Students here have such type-A personalities that they thrive on competition of any sort,” said Ms. Efinger. To increase variety in the types of performances given at Andover, Ms. Efinger hopes to bring a group of students to a performer’s convention to help select acts that would appeal to the student body. “[At these conventions,] groups of students walk around and pick out the most interesting comedians, up-and coming bands, magicians, illusionists, and dancers. Afterwards, our school can get in contact with the different acts that we want to come to perform,” she said. In the past years, Andover has invited up-and-coming bands to perform. The ever-popular “ZOX” played in Ryley Room two years ago before they made it big. Last year, the board was rumored to have considered inviting “Panic! At the Disco” to perform, now a nationally popular band. In addition, the SAB is trying to offer more off-campus weekend activities. According to Ms. Efinger, a recent student survey showed that students are more eager to get away from the “Andover Bubble.” If taking buses to Boston is economically feasible and a popular option, then SAB will try to include more trips to Boston. On a more local level, SAB will continue to provide transportation to places like the Loop or the Burlington mall. Ms. Efinger is allowing SAB to make such changes “because there has been a lot of support this year from the students.” Ozimek-Maier wants to apply for her own radio show on WPAA to obtain feedback from students about weekend activities. She said, “Aside from hearing comments about events through the grapevine, this radio show will be a formal way for students to speak their mind. Oftentimes students complain about events that they don’t even show up for. Hence, our board’s motto ‘show up or shut up.’ Hopefully, the radio show will be a direct communication between the students and the organizers.”
