Marilyn Monroe, a football player, Harry Potter, Poison Ivy and Freddy Krueger attended the first social event put on by the Communications Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta, for students and faculty at Keene State College. The theme was a costume karaoke party that took place on Saturday evening, Oct. 26.
After a meeting with the Night Owl Café coordinator, contacting catering services and purchasing prizes for “best singer” and “best costume,” the costume karaoke party was on its way.
“It didn’t take that much time but that’s because we had so much fun doing it,” Lambda Pi Eta’s Vice President Sarah Laramie said.
With the goal of getting freshmen and other Communication majors to network, and to bring recognition to Lambda Pi Eta, the event was a great time for those who attended.
Sam Lewis / Equinox Staff: Students learn about the Communications program through the event held in the Night Owl Cafe.
Chitra Akkoor, assistant professor of communications and advisor of Lambda Pi Eta, spoke of how this event helped students in the communications major connect.
“In a way it’s networking. First it’s visibility, them getting to know who we are, and then the outreach becomes easier. Social arena is the best way to connect people,” Akkoor said.
“This is a great way to inspire our freshmen,” Akkoor said when speaking of getting freshmen involved with the group.
At the event, students and professors were there to answer questions about the Lambda Pi Eta honors society and offered advice for those in the Communications major about specific projects, opportunities or future jobs.
“We want to foster that even though these are some of our best honor students, we also don’t want that divide,” Akkor said.
The Communications major is also known to be very connected and “close-knit,” according to the President of Lambda Pi Eta Kelsey Schild.
“It’s a really close-knit major and I feel like that’s what makes a lot of students successful in this major because they have those connections. Not only with students, but professors too,” Schild said.
“We can have fun and get our name out there,” Schild said.
Laramie, dressed as Marilyn Monroe, sang karaoke tunes and answered questions about Lambda Pi Eta with curious freshmen.
She also offered inspiration to how one can succeed in Lambda Pi Eta.
“As a department, we want our model students to show the way to our other students in terms of ‘you can excel too,” Akkoor said.
To top off the evening, Lambda Pi Eta’s goal of attracting freshmen seemed to be successful.
Freshmen were dressed in costume, getting up to sing “Call Me Maybe” and other hits. Many left that night with an obvious recognition of Lambda Pi Eta.
“I think almost everyone has sang a song,” Laramie said. She also commented on the turnout of freshmen that were in the audience.
“I did a poll, I said, ‘is anyone out there freshmen?’ I think the entire audience that was a part of the group raised their hand, and we got to tell them all about it and let them know that this is what we do, we’re fun, think about our major,” Laramie said.
Secretary Taylor Lindsey commented on the successful spreading of the word prior to the event.
Haley Erdbrink / Equinox Staff: The Joslin Food Lab fills with healthy-option foods and people for breast health awareness.
“I think it’s because of all the advertising we did,” Lindsey said.
“I don’t think [freshmen] really know what’s out there to get involved with and so this really helped them get to know what’s out there, and can help them reach out to other people and society,” Lindsey said
As communication students mingled around the Night Owl Café, sipping on apple cider and choosing their next song to sing, Lambda Pi Eta’s first event succeeded in connecting students while also bringing recognition to the honor society.
“I think that it was a really good turn out, it helps us get ready for the next event we’ll have,” Laramie said.
Annelise Kloster can be contacted at akloster@keene-equinox.com