Campus Connection

UWL student employees help major events run without a hitch.

Ian Santiago always has one of the best seats at big events on campus. The UWL senior is part of the event support staff that sets up the technology for those programs, such as the International Banquet. Then during the events, the students run the lights, sound and coordinate with the performers. “Being behind the scenes is cool,” says Santiago. The support-staff position is one of dozens of student jobs on campus. Recently, UWL was recognized as a top school in the nation for providing these on-campus opportunities. A major perk for Santiago, a music lover, is the excuse to see performances he otherwise may not have enjoyed. “It’s awesome,” he says.   https://youtu.be/5hgtATCOgDk   These jobs provide students, like junior Michael Erickson, an opportunity to hone new skills. And it’s not just the technical skills ­— Erickson is also picking up leadership skills. “I never expected to be the point person at an event, as in the person the performer comes to,” he says. “I never thought I’d have that much freedom to work like that, which I’m very thankful for.” A challenge for the staff this year has been transitioning into the new Student Union. The team is exploring the best way to set up in several new spaces and help create the best performances possible. “A lot of people don’t realize how much there is at the Student Center beyond a place to eat,” says Erickson. “We set up at least one of these big events once a month on top of dozens of other events.”