The Stomp virtually welcomes community

Sol Garcia | THE RIDER

As part of its Best Week Ever, Student Activities hosted The Stomp on Thursday. This year, the event was hosted virtually and livestreamed on the Best Week Ever’s university page with over 900 RSVPs.

The Stomp, the signature event for Best Week Ever, welcomes back students, staff and faculty for the fall semester, said Elianey Moya, Student Activities program coordinator. 

“It’s just a time or an event, actually, to welcome everybody, to engage everybody, and make sure that we provide students with the different ways that they can get involved and resources that are provided to them by the university,” she said. 

Student Activities collaborated with Student Media, Leadership & Mentoring, Residence Life & Residence Hall Association, Campus Activities Board, Student Union, Athletics, University Recreation and Auxiliary Services to provide the event. 

Modern pop and synth rock band DPAK | Robot Nature was scheduled to open this year’s Stomp, but weather conditions prevented the band from playing. Instead, Steve Everett, a singer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, opened the event. As headliners, Plain White T’s, an American rock band, performed afterwards.  Tom Higgenson and Mike Retondo, band members, performed together from Tom’s home in Chicago, while Tim Lopez, another member, performed from his home in Austin. 

Throughout the concert, hosts Samantha Garza, mass communication senior and Vaquero Radio station manager, and Anna Armenta, marketing sophomore and campus pride chair for Campus Activities Board, provided information regarding different departments that students can get involved with. Both hosts went live from their homes.

“This year, specifically, since it was virtual, we were able to give a lot of student organizations from campus, like, shout outs,” Garza said.

Attendees who answered questions about the departments correctly had the chance to win a Stomp T-shirt designed by a student. Other giveaways included $100 gift cards to the University Bookstore, an iPad Mini and an Apple Watch, Moya said. 

During the event, there was an internet wipeout that affected some viewers and even one of the hosts. However, the host who didn’t disconnect adjusted smoothly, Moya said. 

“They went along with the show, and they did very great,” she said. 

After the performances, students nominated by organizations were able to attend a meet-and-greet with the Plain White T’s. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and take photos with the band members, all from home.

The meet-and-greet showed the musicians’ more personal sides, Armenta said. 

“It was fun because you get to know them,” she said. 

Garza described The Stomp as a success, showing how dedicated Student Activities and its partners are to students. 

“I think it shows that the organizations that put this event together are really trying to make sure students get that full college experience, even though we are virtual,” she said. 

Even though students are facing hurricanes and the pandemic, Armenta hopes they will get excited about joining organizations. While they should focus on school, Student Activities and its collaborators want students to enjoy themselves, she said. 

“Being a university student is a one-time thing, and you won’t get that experience back, so make the best out of your university experience,” Armenta said. 

Other events by Student Activities begin today. At noon, students can attend a Virtual Census Dance Party where they can learn about the census and hear music from DJ Phlex. 

Students can also expect John Leguizamo, actor, to speak at the Distinguished Speaker series, also virtual, in the near future. Campus Activities Board continues to host other virtual events, like escape rooms, bingos and murder mysteries. To learn about voting, students are also invited to virtual events, such as Coffee and Conversations hosted by Civic Engagement Alliance, Moya said.  

“We hope to still engage students in the virtual environment,” she said. “I think we have been doing a good job thus far.”