Trying to keep both students and faculty engaged and entertained can be a difficult thing to do even during a normal school year, let alone during a global pandemic. However, Associated Student Productions on campus has been working tirelessly to ensure that members of the Sonoma State family can still enjoy these events in a refreshing and healthy manner.

Typically, the ASP steering committee gets together at the beginning to middle of each semester and proposes events for the next semester,” said ASP Event Director, Emily Hicks. “Once we have a solid calendar of events for the next semester, we reach out to our vendors or outside contacts to confirm the event with them and then proceed to working on marketing, contracts and other communications.”

The ASP team took to Instagram Live on Fri., Feb. 19 to announce some of the biggest events they have planned for the spring semester.

“Instagram Live adds a unique and exciting feeling to the announcement,” said ASP’s faculty advisor Erik Dickson. “Having the students connect live to those announcements is a great way for them to be aware of how the Associated Students are serving them.”

It seems like ASP pulled out all of the stops this semester, as there are some incredible events coming to campus. Some of these events include a Drive-in movie night on campus as well as Q&As with RuPaul’s Drag Race’s own Cynthia Lee Fontaine and niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, Meena Harris.

“ASP tries to provide dozens of events a semester and hopefully there are a few each student can get excited for,” Dickson said. “My only encouragement is to pick an event and go, learn and engage. This pandemic has separated us all physically, but ASP events are a great way to experience college and each other, no matter where you are.”

Like any event, there are going to be some bumps in the planning, but with the addition of a global pandemic, one would think these challenges are only more difficult to overcome. But surprisingly, COVID has only made scheduling special guests easier.

“When planning our in person events like the Drive In’s there are a lot more steps we have to take in order to ensure safety for our students,” Hicks said. “As we have been planning our spring virtual events, we have seen a huge rise in availability with our celebrity guests which allows us to bring in more notable guests. When we have celebrity guests in person there is a lot of travel involved and now since folks can livestream from their home, we have been able to have more highly notable guests.

Hicks went on to add that some difficulties aren’t even COVID related at all.

“One of the biggest challenges that normally present itself is making sure students know that all of our events are happening,” Hicks said. “Since students are paying an Associated Students fee, we want them to be able to rep the benefits of this and attend all the events that their fees are being used for.”

Erik Dickson wanted to make sure that the work of the Associated Students does not go unnoticed, as they’ve been consistently working throughout the pandemic to make things as easy and relaxing as possible for SSU students.

“The Associated Students have been working hard to support the students this year through everything,” Dickson said. “I know the AS leadership is particularly proud of the hard work of our ASP student leaders in contributing to that important effort”

“I think students should be excited for all of our upcoming events happening this spring.” Hicks said. “On the 19th we announced a handful of events but there are even more happening later in the semester, so be on the lookout for another announcement later in the semester on Instagram, @ssu_as.”

Dickson also wanted to add that if any students are interested in joining the ASP team, they are currently recruiting student leaders for the 2021-22 school year.