Student Groups at Lake Forest College Concerned About Planning Campus Events

Caleb Pope ’27
popecse95@lakeforest.edu
Staff Writer

Members of Intervarsity, a Christian student group which meets to discuss scripture at Lake Forest College, planned to hold a prayer and fellowship event at the Lily Reid Holt Memorial chapel late last fall. However, the group was told by the college administration via email to move the gathering to Wood Lounge in the Mohr Student Center. 

This space was smaller, and a band, food, and other times had already been set up in the chapel. As a result, the group was forced to move all the items—and the people—before the scheduled start time.

Lake Forest College is home to clubs, fraternities, sororities, and other organizations that plan events on campus. But it is not always smooth sailing when it comes to arranging events with the college’s administration. 

Some students claim  they do not feel heard. Kyle Powers, 19, the vice president of Intervarsity, said his group was frustrated by the last-minute change. He felt it would be better for administrators to communicate with student leaders in person.

“[It] felt like they weren’t really listening to [our] concerns,” he said. “We really never received concrete reasons on why switching locations was necessary.”

Aldo Guzman, associate dean and director of the John and Christine Gates Center—which serves as a hub for student organizations—stated that the administration is committed to supporting students in planning events. He noted that while events held at the Gates Center are student-led and relatively easy to organize, those at other locations require more intricate coordination and involvement from multiple parties.

Guzman said he did not specifically remember the problem cited by Powers, and mentioned that groups often work with other campus bodies.

“We rarely say no to student events, and work to find solutions to allow all student leaders to have their events,” Guzman said. 

He is hopeful that most students have positive experiences with the Gates Center. 

“If there are any questions or concerns, we are always glad to help,” Guzman said.