The Stomps’ interactive new twist

Student Activities uses student survey results to improve engagement 

Gloria Aguilar | Pulse Magazine 

Last April, Student Activities compiled blind surveys on how to involve more students in this year’s Stomp at the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses and as a result, new activities will be implemented based on students’ feedback.

The  Stomps will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesday on the Student Union lawn on the Brownsville campus and at the same time Thursday on the Edinburg campus.

Program Coordinator Raul Leal Jr. and Assistant Director Cristina Rodriguez looked for and received input from students on what they would like to experience at The Stomp. The changes for both campuses will be revealed Tuesday in Brownsville and Friday in Edinburg.

The Stomp is a signature tradition at UTRGV that launches the academic term by providing students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with campus organizations. Student Activities began planning on how to get more students to attend the event. 

“We did reach out to several students and focus groups,” Rodriguez said. “We took that feedback and really reevaluated the strengths of that and figured out there’s some changes that we could potentially try.” 

The surveys’ purpose was to increase student connections and experience and, according to Leal, it was a success.

The surveys showed that mostly female-identifying students and lower classmen attend  The  Stomp. Leal said changes have been implemented to make this year’s Stomps feel more like a festival.

“I made sure that students had a front seat at the table, like asking them what they were wanting to see and what they thought was cool,” he said. “If they said no, then it was a hard pass.”

Students’ feedback revealed that they viewed The Stomp as an informational event. 

“In the past, it used to be a bit of more tabling aesthetics, and this time around, we’ve transitioned away from it,” Rodriguez said. 

Leal said time proved to be another conflict preventing students from attending, which is why it was moved to a later start time.

“Students were saying that while a day’s event was fun, it impacts their classes,” he said. “Having to get all the way to the other side of the campus for an event is not necessarily engaging.” 

This year, The Stomp will feature live music, DIY keepsakes and more interactive games, such as laser tag and video games. The tabling section will be separate from the activities.

“We’re doing DJs for both campuses, and then we have live performances from bands,” Rodriguez said. “For Brownsville, we have RockStar Denied.”

RockStar Denied is a local cover band from the Rio Grande Valley. Several student organizations will have interactive activities for attendees, such as henna tattoos and painting.

“It’s really about trying to create the same kind of environments and engagements for our students to make sure they’re building networks, connections and having a really good time,” Leal said.

For more information about The Stomp and Welcome Week, visit utrgv.edu/welcomeweek.