Colorado State University Athletics
RamWire: Commitment To Campus, Athletics Pair to Help Create Community
2/11/2020 12:00:00 PM | RamWire
Basketball games see record numbers
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – As the campus continues to expand, ideas to keep it tied together take on a greater importance.
While the Colorado State athletics department is always focused on drawing more attention to the pursuits of the student-athletes, the outreach on campus is not limited to their peer group. Colorado State employees carry the same amount of pride for the university, and through Commitment to Campus, they have easier access.
"CSU athletics is a unifying force on our campus. I really believe that," CSU athletic director Joe Parker said. "It's nice when we have opportunities to tie in the programming that's available through Commitment to Campus to be a part of what we're doing here at CSU within the athletics department. It's a nice opportunity to celebrate all of those moments where it's proud to be a CSU Ram. I know that Chris Ferris and his team work hard to find those connections and really foster opportunities to bring people who work every day on behalf of CSU into our athletic venues, to find those moments where we can all celebrate together."
Bob Schur, the chair of the C2C committee, said the prime objective of the organization is to provide some perks for campus employees through non-compensatory means as a way to improve "their work-life balance."
Through the organization's website, campus employees are highlighted to specials, some branching out into the Fort Collins community. Schur – the executive director in the Department of Policy, Risk and Environmental Programs -- said of those benefits, tickets to athletic events have always been popular. In the month of February, the group witnessed sales records for men's and women's basketball games. The discount – which includes a ticket and meal voucher for a single athletic event – also produced record numbers for volleyball this season, with the football offering the second best of all time.
"I think this program has been continually improving over the years," Schur said. "We always try to take suggestions from campus and find new things for people to enjoy, new programs on and off campus, that we can help employees access. In the last couple of years, we've added quite a few new things, so it's getting better."
Kevin O'Keefe, a CSU accountant, takes advantage of another benefit, discounted season tickets. He holds two for both football and women's basketball, one each for volleyball and men's basketball. When the C2C sales for individual games take place, he usually takes advantage by bringing friends or family.
He's also one to forward suggestions, such as pre-game meetings for employees taking part. To him, it's a great way for him to gather with his CSU co-workers and see them in a social setting, rather than just between trips from his desk.
"I always have felt athletics is a great way [to bring people together]. With the University Center of the Arts, they have a lot of performances, but athletics, you can do more, especially around football." O'Keefe said. "You can get a group of people together before a game and make a day out of getting together with some of your cohorts.
"That really is all about school pride. When you're on TV, they always do the little blurb promoting the school, and you can get information out about the university watching the game in the East who maybe don't see CSU."
Everybody at the university has a hand in bolstering the campus, and part of that is creating a community feel at Colorado State. When Parker attends events, it makes his day to see not only students and community members in the stands supporting teams, but also representatives of the academic community. He's aware some of CSU's biggest fans are those who serve the campus in one capacity or another, far away from the offices at the McGraw Athletic Center.
One of the byproducts of what C2C offers helps create those connections.
"I don't think we've ever expressed that as a goal of C2C, but I find it intriguing," Schur said. "I never thought about that, but I think the athletic events in particular can help do that, by bringing people together at a game and having an enjoyable experience together they may not have had."
While the Colorado State athletics department is always focused on drawing more attention to the pursuits of the student-athletes, the outreach on campus is not limited to their peer group. Colorado State employees carry the same amount of pride for the university, and through Commitment to Campus, they have easier access.
"CSU athletics is a unifying force on our campus. I really believe that," CSU athletic director Joe Parker said. "It's nice when we have opportunities to tie in the programming that's available through Commitment to Campus to be a part of what we're doing here at CSU within the athletics department. It's a nice opportunity to celebrate all of those moments where it's proud to be a CSU Ram. I know that Chris Ferris and his team work hard to find those connections and really foster opportunities to bring people who work every day on behalf of CSU into our athletic venues, to find those moments where we can all celebrate together."
Bob Schur, the chair of the C2C committee, said the prime objective of the organization is to provide some perks for campus employees through non-compensatory means as a way to improve "their work-life balance."
Through the organization's website, campus employees are highlighted to specials, some branching out into the Fort Collins community. Schur – the executive director in the Department of Policy, Risk and Environmental Programs -- said of those benefits, tickets to athletic events have always been popular. In the month of February, the group witnessed sales records for men's and women's basketball games. The discount – which includes a ticket and meal voucher for a single athletic event – also produced record numbers for volleyball this season, with the football offering the second best of all time.
"I think this program has been continually improving over the years," Schur said. "We always try to take suggestions from campus and find new things for people to enjoy, new programs on and off campus, that we can help employees access. In the last couple of years, we've added quite a few new things, so it's getting better."
Kevin O'Keefe, a CSU accountant, takes advantage of another benefit, discounted season tickets. He holds two for both football and women's basketball, one each for volleyball and men's basketball. When the C2C sales for individual games take place, he usually takes advantage by bringing friends or family.
He's also one to forward suggestions, such as pre-game meetings for employees taking part. To him, it's a great way for him to gather with his CSU co-workers and see them in a social setting, rather than just between trips from his desk.
"I always have felt athletics is a great way [to bring people together]. With the University Center of the Arts, they have a lot of performances, but athletics, you can do more, especially around football." O'Keefe said. "You can get a group of people together before a game and make a day out of getting together with some of your cohorts.
"That really is all about school pride. When you're on TV, they always do the little blurb promoting the school, and you can get information out about the university watching the game in the East who maybe don't see CSU."
Everybody at the university has a hand in bolstering the campus, and part of that is creating a community feel at Colorado State. When Parker attends events, it makes his day to see not only students and community members in the stands supporting teams, but also representatives of the academic community. He's aware some of CSU's biggest fans are those who serve the campus in one capacity or another, far away from the offices at the McGraw Athletic Center.
One of the byproducts of what C2C offers helps create those connections.
"I don't think we've ever expressed that as a goal of C2C, but I find it intriguing," Schur said. "I never thought about that, but I think the athletic events in particular can help do that, by bringing people together at a game and having an enjoyable experience together they may not have had."
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