Student involvement does not always have to be about joining clubs or taking part in student government. It can be as simple as attending events on campus, such as the Neon Dance.

The Neon Dance took place in the Shepherd Union ballrooms from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 24.

Weber State University Student Association hosted the event. The dance party was a chance for attendees to get to know the people around them.

Rachel Van Leeuwen, WSUSA’s Activities Team dance co-chair, explained it is hard for students to become involved and attend events during the day because of their classes. Van Leeuwen said events such as the Neon Dance give everyone a chance to participate and gain a sense of what student life is like on campus.

Keegan Parkinson, member of the WSUSA Diversity and Unity Board, said that along with the chance to get involved, parties on campus also provide a safe space to interact with other students. Parkinson said not many people are interested in going to parties, but it is still important to provide a safe environment.

WSU student Wesley Peterson agreed with Parkinson. “It’s a safer environment. Going to a house party, you never know what you’re going to get,” Peterson said.

Event organizers agreed that student involvement can be beneficial for students. It can give students something to look forward to, apart from the courses they attend.

“Student involvement is important because you get to try out new experiences and get out of your comfort zone,” WSU student Karla Diaz said. “It takes zero commitment to just come to a dance and have fun for a few hours.”

Even if an individual is not interested in going to parties, there are other events held on campus that are open for students throughout the semester. The Weber State website has many of them listed on the events calendar.

Another reason students find value in events like this is the stress-relieving factor. Sarah Earnshaw, a WSU student who attended the dance, said that she believes parties such as this one help to relieve the stress that comes from school.

Event organizers hope students will find value in activities that go beyond the classroom. “There’s still more to this school than just classes,” Van Leeuwen said. “There’s actually things to do and it can be really fun, and you can meet new people.”