Involvement. Medical experts say that as human beings, it’s essential to our feeling of prominence within a community, and Elon University officials highlight it as one of Elon’s most celebrated strengths.

With many academic, employment and social obligations, becoming and staying involved on campus can be difficult for students to maintain. Therein lies Student Union Board, an organization that exists solely to help Elon students overcome this.

SUB is an organization created by students, for students. It provides opportunities for student involvement through campus-wide activities and events. Students can become more involved on campus by joining SUB or by participating in one of these activities or events.

This past semester, SUB has experienced its highest retention rate among members. Janis Baughman, SUB’s faculty adviser and director of student activities, attributes this increase to the improved communication between executive officers, committee chairs and committee members. Committee members’ responsibilities have increased, giving these students a greater feeling of importance within the organization and the motivation to continue to help with these committees.

“ The SUB Execs involve their committee members in major programming decisions—such as what events to bring to campus and what additions would benefit existing programs,” Baughman said. “This gives the students more ownership of what is going on in SUB.”

SUB is composed of 12 executive officers and five committees. Committee chairs direct small committees of SUB members, which include stage, special events, music, SUBlive and public relations. Executive officers include president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Executive officers and committees meet separately once a week.

The executive and committee members of SUB set aside several hours of each week to plan, promote and orchestrate events such as Midnight Meals, SUBlive, movies on the lawn and the fall and spring concerts. The majority of these events are free for Elon students.

“It’s all about the students—we’re doing this for them,” SUB President junior Jenn Montrose said. She became involved with SUB during her freshman year and joined the executive committee soon after.

“SUB is like my home away from home,” Montrose said. “I love everything about it.”

SUB advertises primarily through E-net, Facebook groups, ARAMARK table tents and a white board in Moseley Center. Though its marketing campaign recently expanded to include couch sits and golf carts, student attendance at SUB events remains a concern.

“We get a consistent amount [of students at events], but we can always shoot for better,” Montrose said. Montrose said that SUB is still struggling with ways to reach students, despite its addition of new advertising methods.

SUB members try to help out with other student organizations whenever they can, such as by providing Elon’s chapter of Invisible Children with markers and other school supplies, and participating in Alpha Xi Delta’s 4-square tournament.

SUB also co-sponsors many campus events, such as bowling with the Resident Student Association.

The spring concert is SUB’s largest event. Though no artist was decided upon for this spring, students are encouraged to log on to the SUB Web site and take a survey which will assist the music committee with choosing an artist that appeals to the majority of students.

Junior Billy Koehn, SUB’s music committee chair, joined the committee during his freshman year. This fall, he became the committee’s executive chairperson. He enjoys the variety of responsibilities that the position presents as well as the opportunity to work with different aspects of music.

Koehn organized the Emerson Drive concert, Elon’s first fall concert this year. Organizing events “overwhelms you in a good way,” he said. He received help from the entire board in both planning and orchestrating the event.

He emphasized the importance of student feedback with music events.

“We represent the student body,” Koehn said. “If we don’t bring what they want, then we’re not doing our job,” Koehn said.

Reporter: Sarah McGlinchey - 12/05/07