Small schools have a bad reputation for having nothing to do on or around campus. Small schools are usually centered in small towns, and small towns rarely have an abundance of things college-age kids find fun to do. At West Virginia Wesleyan College, every student that attends will tell the incoming freshman, "Wesleyan's as good as what you make it," which tends to sound cliché and a bit redundant after awhile, but it's true, as well. You can't sit in your dorm room hoping someone or something will approach you with something fun, you have to go out and find it.
1. Bobcat Entertainment Events
Bobcat Entertainment is an organization at WVWC that puts on various activities for students on campus. Their most popular event is Big Bingo, in which all the students gather in the dining hall to play bingo for prizes that can and have ranged from gift cards, to coffee makers, to paying for your books for the semester. They also show movies in an auditorium on campus, which are always recent releases! They bring comedians onto campus about once a month, and provide food during the show. The best part of all of these events? They're all free.
2. Planetarium Shows
Okay, maybe not everybody's cup of tea, but if you've ever been interested in constellations or the night sky, there are planetarium shows twice a month on campus! They're low cost for students (free the first time for those who have Astronomy!) and cool for anyone interested in the stars! Plus, Dr. DeLaney is someone who is always entertaining.
3. RA Programs
Every month, every RA has to plan and carry out some sort of program to do with their residents, usually something interactive. There are over 30 RA's on campus, so that's more than 30 programs every month that students can particpate in. These range from learning to use chopsticks, to trivia nights, to much larger staff programs like block parties in the oval!
4. Riverwalk
Behind the campus is a trail next to the river that's about 2 miles long. It's a nice place for a run, a place to go and clear your thoughts, or a great place for conversation and a leisurely walk!
5. Movies
There is a lobby or a lounge in every building on campus, so even if you don't have a TV in your room, you can always gather your friends and utilize the TV in any of these rooms at any given time!
6. Student Organizations
Student Organizations are the best way to get involved on small campuses. You meet people and make friends quickly with people whom you know have similar interests. There are sororities, fraternities, young democrats, college republicans, WELEAD, Odyssey, and so much more! Not to mention all of these organizatons will often host their own events on campus that you can also attend!
7. Intramural Sports
For those who are athletic but aren't playing a sport in college, or just want to play a different one for fun, there are intramurals! Intramural sports are just groups of students getting together to play sports for fun. Volleyball, frisbee, and basketball are pretty common on campus.
8. Hangin' Out in the Oval
One of the best parts of WVWC is the gorgeous campus we have. Why not take advantage of it whenever we can? During the beginning and end of the school year you can always find people laying outside on a blanket in the grass, beneath the trees, reading, talking with friends, or doing homework. People always gather in the oval to play sports or games with their friends, and people are often just walking and talking around the oval. In the winter, though, people don't just give up on being outside or having fun, they'll build forts, have snowball fights, and attempt to make igloos and snowmen. There's always something going on outside.