Across the University of Louisiana Monroe, an insidious shift is happening. Little by little, Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) are losing members. Some are even disbanding. With online classes becoming more prominent and the social habits formed during the COVID-19 pandemic lingering, campus life looks different today.
Pratik Pokharel, who has served on the Nepalese Student Association (NSA) board for three years and as vice president for two years, points to a changing digital landscape as a primary factor.
“The influence of social media is high, and students just don’t want to get out of their dorms or apartments,” Pokharel said.
He also noted a disconnect in interests, explaining that many organizations are still hosting traditional events that the newer generation of students simply does not connect with.
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is seeing this shift firsthand and recognizing what works and what does not. According to CAB committee member Sujit Bhattarai, passive events are no longer interesting to people.
“Some traditional events like movie nights are facing lower engagement now because students prefer interactive experiences rather than just sitting and watching something,” Bhattarai explained.
However, Bhattarai noted that experience-based events like Casino Night, Halloween Bash and Spring Fever Week continue to interest people.
“Students are more likely to come when there is food and a fun atmosphere,” Bhattarai said. “Honestly, even I will probably go to many events if I see there is something good to eat.”
For some students, the lack of involvement simply comes down to a lack of time. Mario Santin, a ULM track athlete, falls into this category.
“I am not really involved in any RSOs because I rarely have free time outside of practice, classes and weekend matches.”
On the other hand, students who do participate are actively looking for connection and movement. Porter Brunfield, a sophomore construction management major, said he even joins in on sports he has never played before.
“It’s fun to compete against my peers at a fun level, make new friends and get good exercise,” Brunfield said.
To combat the drop in attendance, RSO leaders realize that basic emails and static Instagram flyers no longer suffice. Bhattarai said CAB is changing its approach to focus heavily on modern digital marketing to reach students where they spend most of their time.
“We try to promote events more clearly by highlighting what students will get, like activities, prizes, or free food,” Bhattarai said.
By making promotions more visual, leaning into engaging digital content and collaborating across organizations, RSO leaders hope to break through the screen time and make ULM’s campus active once again.
