Hey, want to go to that MLS game this weekend? Chicago Fire FC is going up against Charlotte. Oh, how about we head to Shedd Aquarium on Saturday? Maybe catch the Wiz after Thanksgiving break?
Now, for your average college student, this could be a feasible weekend, but it’s definitely dipping into the bank. However, SOA, the Office of Student Organizations and Activities at Northwestern University is trying to combat this with their Passport Program. Through this program, students can sign up to receive transportation and entrance tickets to various sights and experiences in the greater Chicago area.
[K. Parker Hess] So, we hold this belief that students shouldn’t encounter barriers to being involved and that kind of extends to the experience that students should receive as an undergraduate student.
That was K. Parker Hess, an Assistant Director at SOA. According to him, this program has been talked about for years. However, it was never formally planned and has not come to fruition until this year.
While SOA has organized similar trips in the past, known as “Signature Programs,” they weren’t as common. These were often one-off trips during a quarter or movie screenings on campus. However, the Passport Program aims to make these more organized and incentivized. Early on, students have taken notice.
[Hess] We send out an invite being like, ‘Hey, here’s the Qualtrics form to reserve and request a ticket.’ We get booked within a day.
So far, the Passport Program has put on two separate events. The first, back in September, was a night at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute is an organization that has an established relationship with SOA. This partnership allows Northwestern students to receive a free ticket with their Wildcard. The September event in particular allowed for specialty tours, including a tour inspired by Crying in H Mart, this year’s One Book Northwestern.
Then, in October, students attended a home game for the Chicago Fire, a Major League Soccer team. This trip also included specialty scarves for the students involved. While the team suffered a 2-0 loss, there was still a lot to enjoy about the trip.
[Hess] Our contact actually put us in really close seats, like we were shocked that we were so close to the fan section and the field. And then our contact came over with the scarves, and I was like, ‘Let’s hand these out.’ And students were like, ‘We get scarves?’.
There are more opportunities for students left in this quarter – including a trip to Shedd Aquarium on November 18th and viewing of The WIZ on Chicago’s Broadway on November 30th.
While the planning process for these events is a complicated one, students have the opportunity to give input.
[Hess] We go out, we ask the students to kind of submit ideas to us of like, ‘What would be cool to do? What would we go see?’ So, we’ve submitted some of our ideas through NU Nights, who we also advise directly, and they’ve been providing some really great, like ‘Hey students would love this. Students wouldn’t love that.’
Through this feedback process, SOA has been able to increase capacity for events. While the Chicago Fire game and Shedd Aquarium trip were limited to 45 students each, The WIZ will have a capacity of 90. They’ve also been able to gain a better understanding of the events that interest NU students. These may be offered up to students as early as this year.
[Hess] We’re considering another Bulls trip this year, because it was really successful last year. We’ve tossed out the Blue Man Group. We’re talking about taking students down to Second City.
This program is expected to continue for years to come. But how can students get involved and attend these trips?
[Hess] We essentially have them scan a QR Code, which is basically like, ‘Give us your name. Give us your email. You’re in. Here’s your passport.’ We just ask that students find us in person so we can get them the passport right away.
The SOA offices are located at SOURCE, in the 3rd Floor of Norris University Center. There have already been over 500 students to sign up and receive a passport. So while it may otherwise seem difficult for students to experience Chicago, SOA is working to combat this. For students, it’s just a trip to Norris away.
For WNUR News, I’m Gabe Shumway.
