Some nights the only thing that sounds enjoyable is staying home and watching Netflix. However, it’s important for students to get out and enjoy events around campus, especially this time of year when it is cold and dark and life is typically pretty boring.

Almost every week at UW Oshkosh there is another event being held, from plays to movies to local bands.

UWO senior Natalie Schuster said she agreed it’s important for students to attend campus events, not only to meet new people, but to learn more about themselves as well.

“Apart from getting good grades, attending on-campus events and overall getting involved is a vital part of the college experience,” Schuster said. “It is a chance to build connections with friends and perhaps future colleagues. By attending events and getting involved on campus, you open yourself up to other views and can discover more about yourself and what you like.”

Not only are campus events a great way to meet new people with similar interests, but they are also experiences that could be once-in-a-lifetime for many people.

There are a ton of on-campus activities and events that students seem to often overlook.

For example, at UWO, students have the chance to see great, entertaining plays for $5. This is the perfect time to enjoy these quality plays because after college, many can cost well over $50 just for the nose-bleeds.

As people who have attended various campus events, from the plays to many of the live-band nights, we believe attending them allowed us to enjoy something that we wouldn’t have had the chance to experience otherwise.

However, it is apparent that many students never go out and experience these awesome activities. Senior Sean Becher said he found ways to get involved on campus without going to events. Rather, he said he joined a club to get him out of the dorms and meet new people.

“I never really had an amazing time at any event; I made more of my college experience at the [Titan] TV station,” Becher said.

Not only does going to on-campus events on Friday nights and trying out a new club help students meet new people and discover new interests, they also help improve students’ mental health.

The article “Connectedness & Health: The Science of Social Connection” by Dr. Emma Seppala said people who are more social have less anxiety and depression than those who isolate themselves from others.

“People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression,” Seppala wrote. “Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, and are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them. In other words, social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical well-being.”

Perhaps some of the events and clubs on campus could be improved upon so a wider variety of students can find them enjoyable.

Although there are many different events, some of them go unnoticed by students or get lost in announcement emails that students just blow off. Campus events need better advertising of what exactly each event involves so they reach students who will enjoy them.

So rather than staying at home or in the dorms this weekend, go out and try something new. It could be cheering on the Titans at a sporting event or seeing whatever movie is currently showing on campus. Grab a friend or even go by yourself. Check out the student announcements or Reeve Memorial Union’s website to see what’s happening.

Netflix will still be there when you get home.