Alley Encourages Students to Get Involved on Campus
Kaity Collins
Samantha Alley is on the Avenue—604 East College Avenue—as she becomes Manchester’s new director of Student Involvement and Leadership Development. A Manchester graduate from 2011, Alley has already been working at the university since 2016 as an admissions counselor. “This is where I wanted to be,” Alley said. “It’s a very accepting place; it’s like home.”
Being a part of the MAC (Manchester Activities Center) team, Alley is happy to encourage students to get involved with any events taking place on campus. “I think they’re an excellent group of students,” she said. “We try to do a variety of events to pique a lot of students’ interests.”
Upcoming events are already in the works, with one more in April and three in May to wrap up the spring semester. “We try to do events that will hit a good range of students,” Alley said. Today, April 20, a MAC on the Mall event, in collaboration with Spartan Choices, will take place with various games and activities, including soccer darts, nine-square, spike ball, rock climbing and water pong. The event starts at 5 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. The annual May Day events will take place the first weekend in May. That Thursday features a bonfire, starting at 8:08 p.m. On Friday, May 4, the trike race kicks off at 5 p.m., followed by air band at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 5, offers the popular MU mud volleyball competition to wrap up May Day weekend at 10 a.m., lasting most of the day.
In addition to working with MAC, Alley also encourages students to pay a visit to the SAC (Student Activity Center), located in the basement of Calvin Ulrey. “I am always trying to get more people to the SAC,” Alley said. “It’s a place where people can come and hang out.” This space is complete with comfy couches and chairs, a pool table, poster board and paper for any project, and much more. Many clubs have meetings in the SAC, but Alley encourages everyone to take advantage of the commodities: “It’s open for all students any time,” she said.
Alley is a part of other projects and activities, as well. “I’m always involved in the Inter-Mural Program and am hiring for all positions,” Alley said cheerfully. “Any student inputs are welcome.” Alley is excited to once again be a part of Manchester University, and wants everyone to remember that she’s ready to listen and, as she says. She’s here to help.