SC State’s Campus Activities Board president focuses on creating connections and experiences for students

Kaitlyn Pinckney works to give students opportunities to network, make memories beyond the classroom

ORANGEBURG, S.C.- Movie nights, dances and socials are more than entertainment for Kaitlyn Pinckney.

As president of South Carolina State University's Campus Activities Board, she sees them as opportunities for students to connect, relieve stress and make memories beyond the classroom.

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) helps implement activities throughout the academic year as part of its role as the programming extension of the Office of Student Life and Leadership.

"I feel as though those wind-down type of events are things that students can do outside of classes and studying to kind of help manage their stress. Students are going to want to go someplace where they can have a fun environment, where they feel kind of welcome," Pinckney said.

"The Campus Activities Board plays a big role in kind of cultivating those environments and those experiences for the students. We're basically the programming extension of Student Life and Leadership," she said.

Expanding the campus experience

Pinckney said the majority of the CAB's events are designed to give students spaces to meet new people and make new connections.

"I think one of the things my board is heavy with this year is giving students spaces and environments that kind of allow them to create memories that they can take with them once they graduate," she said.

Parties are not the only activities students want to participate in, Pinckney said.

"So we've done a lot of socials. A new social that we're trying out is having a DJ in The Pit or the Student Center, where we just have music playing and create a more welcoming environment for students to just walk around and meet new people without the high energy party aspect," Pinckney said.

"This year we've already had a back-to-school meltdown and our first party of the year in Dukes Gymnasium. The theme of that was Traffic Light Party. We also did a movie night and we have a Vision Board Night for people to make vision boards of just their aspirations for the school year and a life in general," the CAB president said.

The CAB is currently planning new activities for the university's upcoming homecoming celebration but is not yet ready to say what they will be.

"With the new security measures that campus police are bringing in, we're also finding ways to make these events safe for the campus and students, especially with the higher attendance here on campus," Pinckney said.

She said CAB is open to new ideas for creating spaces for students.

"Some people may like a calmer type of energy. So we're open to new ideas. We're also open to just working with different organizations on campus that we may not have worked with before to reach out to those students that we might not reach with our existing events," Pinckney said.

'Grateful for the experiences I've had'

Pinckney said a thriving CAB can help attract students to the university.

"Academics are always important. Students are going to go where they can get the best academic experience, but there are 24 hours in a day. The entire 24 hours are not going to be spent in the class or studying.

"Then also the social media posts about our events that get put out. Students interested in SC State are going to see those, and it's going to play a factor in whether or not the campus life is going to be something that's for them," she said.

The CAB consists of Damere Scott, vice president; Dominique Woods, secretary; Tayvian Boston, business manager; Shawnterriah Geddis, parliamentarian; Quinton Dais, chief of staff; and Ashley Hadley, intern expert.

Pinckney said the heightened security measures on campus also help people feel safer during campus events.

"I think it's a positive thing. I'm excited to keep working with campus police for more ideas that we may have to find a happy balance between events that are still fun for students while keeping campus safe for everybody," Pinckney said.

She said SC State has provided her with a good foundation from which to plan not just campus events but her future.

"I didn't really know a lot about HBCUs in grade school," said Pinckney, who began looking into attending SC State after a high school friend told her about the university.

"It wasn't too far from home, but also far away enough to where I could still practice independence. Finding out about its Honors College program was another deciding factor for me," she said.

The family atmosphere also attracted her to the university.

"That was something I knew I wanted to be a part of. The Bulldog tenacity that we have on campus is one of my favorite things to show anyone who's not a part of the SC State community and one of the biggest things I'm proud of," Pinckney said.

She said she is also appreciative of the support the CAB has received from alumni and others, as well as the friends and advisors she's met during her time at SC State.

"They've definitely helped me get through some hard times. I'm grateful for that and the experiences I've had," Pinckney said.