By Amisha Temal, Staff Writer
A variety of opportunities emerge for students as the spring semester takes off. Some of these opportunities are upcoming events on campus.
Promise hosts Mental Health Mondays, where students can discuss the many stressors of college and learn coping strategies and tips. Each Wednesday, Promise holds a trivia night in Sharkbite, during which prizes are given out to the winners. Having a variety of events to choose from makes participating in campus life easy for students. The Center for Healthy Living hosts weekly art therapy workshops for those interested in art. There are various clubs for religions and ethnic backgrounds like the South Asian Student Association (SASA), Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC) and the Jewish Leadership Association (JLA).
Many students want to be involved in college activities and events, but don’t know what to do, or where to start. Sometimes attending your first club meeting or participating in events can be intimidating. Especially if you are a new student, commuter, or introvert. But being around people with similar interests, hobbies, life goals and qualities can lift spirits.
If that’s not enough to encourage students to participate in campus events, consider shark points. Shark points are points you can earn by attending various campus events. They can later be used to get free Post merchandise like lanyards, blankets, shirts, water bottles, drawstring backpacks, and more. Sweatshirts and hoodies cost around $50-$70. A pair of LIU socks cost $15.28 at the bookstore. Therefore, getting LIU merchandise for free is favorable to a lot of students. Many organizations and groups offer Shark Points for attending their events. On Feb. 2, the nutrition club is hosting a welcome-back meeting for new or returning members. Meeting attendees will receive 5 shark points. BASIC is hosting a pizza tabling event in Hillwood Commons on Feb. 1 to raise money, where attendees can get pizza and 15 shark points. The club is raising money in hopes of being able to attend BASICCON, a two-night event in Rochester where they will meet others in BASIC from the state. The student chapter of NAVTA is having a sticker and hat sale at Hillwood Commons on Feb. 6, where students can purchase items and get 20 shark points. The Student Nurses Association is holding its second general meeting of the year via Zoom, where members can receive 25 shark points.
The majority of people at Post don’t know what shark points are. When asked, most students said they might have heard of shark points, but don’t know what they are. There isn’t much information about them online.
At liu-post.prescence.io, there is a short description of what shark points are, but no details on how to use and redeem them:
“Earn Shark Points for attending campus events! Campus events are worth Shark Points! Earn enough shark Points and you can redeem your Shark Points for Swag like lanyards, drawstring backpacks, water bottles, blankets, t-shirts, and more!”
Many students do not know what shark points are.
“I don’t know that existed, but nice,” freshman biology major Leiel Mulakandov said.
“I think it’s nice, it doesn’t hurt anyone. My first impression is that it’s a good thing. I just found out about it so I don’t know much. I definitely think it’s a good way to encourage people to go to events. I’d be excited to get a hoodie or at least a discount.
Freshman art major Amora Galara did not know what shark points were either.
“I probably have a few, but I have never used them and I don’t know how to use them,” she said. “No one really knows about it. I don’t know how to access them at all.”
Shark Points were further discussed by Promise Coach Stephanie Lowe.
“Shark points have always had the intention of getting students involved and engaged through our wide variety of programs year to year, through encouraging attendance among the student body. With the COVID-19 pandemic taking place with the introduction of our Presence platform, we are reimagining this process,” Lowe said. “We have been working on revamping this point system with new initiatives, prizes, and experiences awarded when students check into not only Promise’s events, but student organization meetings and events as well. We will have more information on these in the coming weeks that we are excited to share with the LIU community.”
Promise staff is working to increase student involvement on campus this semester. Upon further development, shark points will strengthen the community by bringing students together, but there is not yet a system in place to use them.
Be First to Comment