The Fanshawe Student Union recently held its annual Student Impact Gala, an event put on to recognize students’ contributions to the FSU and the Fanshawe community.
“The purpose of the gala is to bring all of the students who have been volunteering with us and putting clubs together in the school, and working very closely with the FSU, and celebrate everything they’ve accomplished for the year,” says FSU Catering Coordinator Maddy Trembulak.
The gala was held in the newly opened Forwell Hall, with all the accoutrement one would expect of a formal event. Lavish décor, a red carpet, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres—and a 3-course dinner. The total cost was just under $10,000, Trembulak says.
In front of a large stage were 20 round tables, draped in cloth and outfitted with floral centrepieces, to accommodate the 160 staff and students who had confirmed their attendance.
As the attendees were seated for dinner, however, the four tables directly in front of the stage were all empty.
Of the 100 students expected to attend, 35 were absent. Their meals—salad, a choice between roasted chicken supreme or dill salmon, and NY style cheesecake —had already been paid for and prepared, and were left sitting in the kitchen, unclaimed. The total cost of the uneaten food was $1260.
While this number of no-shows is unprecedented for the event, Trembulak says, it could have something to do with the years spent off-campus, working and studying from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is the first year we’ve been fully on-track, since Covid,” she says. “Just bringing morale back, in general, to all the students and the school has been a struggle.”
When asked if the FSU will continue to put as much money and labour into the event after this year’s low turn-out, she says it’s something the FSU will be thinking about moving forward.
“In the next couple years, we’ll see if it declines or hikes back up…and make a decision accordingly,” she says.
While this year may have fallen short of expectations, Trembulak is optimistic about future events.
“I think there’s always things you can do to attract students more,” she says.
She notes that promoting events on social media is very important, and that the FSU is a bit behind in that area.
“Hopefully next year, if we’re a little bit more established on there, the students will actually understand what the event is, know about it sooner, be more interested…and want to attend.”
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