While some at Colgate University may ponder if we need our own Alix Earle, other students are already utilizing short-form video to tell their stories in a variety of ways. From the C Store to Stewart’s, students have taken to Instagram to showcase the highlights of their student experience.
Colgate’s Student Government Association (SGA) began a series of videos in the fall as a way to connect with the broader student body. Sophomore and Vice President of Communications for SGA Kaitlyn May shared that her goal with the videos was to increase transparency.
“We have multiple weekly segments, but my favorite is probably the Did You Know, which we use to educate students on the resources across campus that are available to them,” May said. “Of these, my favorite was our ‘Did You Know’ on Franksgiving, which helped students skip the line by donating canned goods.”
Some SGA meetings have attracted some famous guests — May shared that the reels produced from these visits are her most memorable work.
“I also did a reel with President Casey when he attended the Senate, which is our most liked post,” May said.
The SGA videos also feature student representatives, such as first-years Kyle Fleshman and Preston Selby. The duo use their videos to bring news to students, such as the introduction of Cafe 13 to the Boost mobile app or sharing how students can suggest products for the new C Store.
“I think there are two effects of short form content that aren’t actually super conducive to what we’re wanting to do as the SGA, which is to advertise and inform for the most part,” Selby said. “But we’re also competing with the entertainment aspect of short form content from elsewhere, and try to make our ‘Did You Knows’ memorable in some way.”
Outside of student organizations, many others are taking to Instagram as a way to build community. Stewart’s Shops, only a short distance away from Colgate University, is famously known as the ultimate dessert destination for a delicious sundae. Seniors Estelle Monti and Elizabeth Rainey began an Instagram account this spring semester called “Monday Sundaes,” where they upload weekly videos, interviewing friends and fellow classmates over a scoop of ice cream at Stewart’s.
Monti and Rainey became good friends during their sophomore year, connecting over their shared appreciation for finding the moments of humor in everyday life. This led to their decision to be roommates their junior year, and now next-door neighbors in off-campus housing this year. During their sophomore year, the pair went to Stewart’s every Monday for an ice cream and debrief. This tradition has now transformed into an entertaining series that brings together the Colgate campus community.
Rainey explained how the idea to turn this tradition into a podcast first started.
“We started to joke this past winter about starting a podcast there, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized it would actually be really fun to invite seniors we don’t see all the time and talk with them about their interests and their time at Colgate,” Rainey said.
Especially with the sentimental emotions that come with senior spring, the two saw this podcast as a wonderful way of connecting with the senior class over their experiences from the past four years.
Monti spoke further about the impact she notices “Monday Sundaes” having with the broader community.
“During any senior spring, we think there’s a shared sentiment across the class that we’ve all been part of this incredible college experience together, and we feel it ending, so filming during these final weeks has felt especially meaningful,” Monti said. “It’s been really fun to see and hear friends vouch for each other to be interviewed.”
Guests are asked questions ranging from how they met certain friends, to what their passions are and to funny “this or that” questions. The interviews can provide a light-hearted platform to get to know one another better.
While “Monday Sundaes” was created relatively recently, Monti and Rainey described hopes of having another pair of juniors take over next year, or for something similar to this podcast to be formed in the future.
Rainey shares a few final thoughts about the impact of Stewart’s on her and Monti’s college experience.
“It’s definitely a constant for us. No matter what has happened in our lives from sophomore year to now, Stewart’s is there with the same milkshakes, meat sticks and snacks,” Rainey said.
