A Look Inside SUN Entertainment

Key Takeaways:

• SUN Entertainment is a student-centered organization that creates events to bring students together and foster a sense of community on campus.
• The organization is run by students, with assistance from manager Doug Quick, and provides opportunities for students to learn business and life skills.
• SUN events include concerts, comedy shows, movie screenings, tournaments, and craft nights, and are designed to help students relax, have fun, and make connections outside of the classroom.
• Students who work with SUN gain valuable skills, including communication, marketing, and event management, which can be applied to their future careers.
• SUN is a great way for students to get involved on campus, meet new people, and build relationships that can last a lifetime.

Introduction to SUN Entertainment
The Northern Arizona University (NAU) experience is about more than just attending lectures, meeting deadlines, and earning degrees. It is a place where students can connect with others, build a sense of community, and achieve success. This is why SUN Entertainment, a student-centered organization, dedicates its time to creating events that bring people together. SUN, which stands for Student Union Network, designs and hosts multiple campus events every year, including concerts, comedy shows, movie screenings, tournaments, and craft nights. Each event provides students with an opportunity to relax, have fun, and make connections outside of the classroom, helping to build a sense of community and belonging.

The Role of SUN Entertainment
Doug Quick, SUN Entertainment’s manager, explains that students are involved in all aspects of planning, marketing, and managing the events, with his assistance. The organization’s goal is to create opportunities for student engagement on campus, which research has shown can have a direct impact on graduation rates. The 30-40 student employees who work with SUN learn valuable business and life skills, including working with vendors, creating budgets, preparing event logistics, and running events. These skills are essential for their future careers and can be applied in a variety of settings.

Student Experiences with SUN Entertainment
Emilee McArdle, a senior majoring in business management, has worked with SUN for 2.5 years and has gained valuable skills and confidence during her time with the organization. She explains that many of the things she has learned are not taught in the classroom, such as how to send emails, meet with people, work with groups and clubs, and work with vendors and senior faculty. McArdle’s coworker, Miranda Theisen, an environmental science junior, agrees that working with SUN has taught her important communication skills, such as talking to vendors and people on site, and achieving a work-life balance.

The Impact of SUN Entertainment
Quick believes that students who work with SUN are not only learning valuable skills but also learning how to work professionally. He is impressed with how well the students can handle themselves and has received compliments from people at all levels about the professionalism of SUN students. SUN is composed of students from various majors and grade levels, but tends to recruit freshmen and sophomores who live on campus and can likely stay working for the organization for the remainder of their time at NAU. The events hosted by SUN are well-attended and vary in size and type, with favorites including concerts, Earth Jam, Welcome Week, and the dive-in movie at the Wall Aquatic Center.

Popular Events and Student Favorites
McArdle and Theisen agree that one of the most popular events on campus is Wingo, where students play bingo and eat wings. This event takes place once a month at the duBois Ballroom. However, McArdle’s favorite event is open mic, where students sing, perform poetry, or do comedy, creating a sense of community among everyone in attendance. Theisen’s favorite part of working for SUN is planning behind the scenes and seeing the events come together. She enjoys knowing that she has planned an event that students will enjoy and that it will help create a sense of community on campus.

Getting Involved with SUN Entertainment
For students who are interested in getting involved with SUN Entertainment, there are several ways to do so. SUN events are promoted through the NAU event calendar, the True Blue events calendar, Instagram, and banners around campus. Students can also visit SUN Entertainment’s YouTube page for event information and behind-the-scenes videos. If you are interested in working for SUN Entertainment, you can send an email to [email protected]. By getting involved with SUN, students can gain valuable skills, make new connections, and be a part of creating a sense of community on campus.