DSU entertainment nationally recognized

By Alison Angel
angela@mytjnow.com

“Campus Activities Magazine” has recognized the DiGiorgio Student Union (DSU) as one of the country’s best college programming boards.

The group, which has been supplying Winthrop’s campus with entertainment for years, was voted into the top five by the magazine’s readers, who annually choose and vote for the top programming boards in the country.

The readers of the magazine, which includes agents and performers who work the college circuit, nominate schools from around the country.

They base their nominees on different factors, such as professionalism and hospitality shown while playing the campus by the different boards. 

This year, DSU is in the top five competing with schools such as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Central Michigan University; Methodist University; and the State University of New York.

DSU has won the coveted award in the past, and has consistently made the top five every year from 1995-2008. 

Additionally, they have won Campus Program of the Year three separate times, in 1995, 2002, and then as recently as 2004.

Boyd Jones, university programs director, said he is immensely proud of his team.

“I’d love for us to win as I am so proud of all we do but I’m not a very competitive person,” Jones said.  “I am happy that folks thought of us when completing nomination forms, but I’m not out to beat another school or program board.

I love what we do and am thankful I work at a university that is thankful for what we bring to campus.”

Winners of the magazine’s Campus Program of the Year award receive a commemorative certificate as well as an article in the magazine devoted to the winning group. 

Jones has articles from DSU’s past wins laminated and hanging in his office for posterity.

DSU is put at the top because, they always just try to make the acts feel welcome, communicating with them not just prior to the acts arriving, Jones said.

DSU also sends performers holiday greetings and congratulates them for achievements. 

Jones said DSU thinks of performers as friends rather than acts.

DSU president Ashley Hunter said the way DSU takes care of an act makes all the difference.

Whenever Hunter meets agents or performers in the college market they always speak highly of Winthrop.

“We do our absolute best to make them feel special by welcoming them before they come and meeting all their needs while they are on campus,” said Hunter, senior integrated marketing communications major.

The group’s success is made possible by the enthusiasm and talent of the students in the group, as well as Boyd’s guidance, who all bring a fresh perspective, Hunter said.

“I feel incredibly humbled by DSU’s success and recognition,” she said.  “It can be an intense job at times so it feels good to know that we’re doing something right and someone sees it.”     

While taking good care of the acts may seem like a simple concept, Hunter was surprised that performers, when visiting other schools, sometimes arrived on campus at other universities with no one to greet them.

DSU makes sure to do with every act to make them feel taken care of.

“It’s like the programming board forgot they booked an act,” Hunter said.  “It’s simple, but it makes such a huge impact.”

“This student body takes their jobs seriously and each performer is treated respectfully and kindly,” said Barbara Meyer, agent for Admire Entertainment who works with the college circut.  “That helps promote the school as a venue to want to play.”

Meyer said having Jones at the helm of DSU has positive effects on the group.

“Many of these students have gone on to continue in the student affairs profession, and this is a direct result in the mentoring of Boyd,” Meyer said.

Mike Rapay, assistant director of student affairs and new addition to the DSU board, praises Jones for his contribution to the group as well as the attention to detail that the students on the board bring to the table.

“Boyd is the lifeline of DSU,” Rapay said.  “He is the magician of being able to bring the type of acts we do because of his long lasting relationships with the agencies and performers around the country. He is definitely a big motivating factor at pushing the personalization of the events.”

Rapay said, he is extremely proud of the nomination and the hard work that the students of the board put in, regardless if the group wins the final award come February.

“Just being nominated as one of the top five programs of the entire country is an exceptional honor, and one that our students should take to heart and be proud of,” Rapay said.  “DSU should be recognized, because of the amount of hard work these students put in to bring entertainment to Winthrop’s campus.”

Voting continues until February 15, when the readers will select one winner from the five finalists.