This past weekend, the punk-pop duo Diet Cig performed an incredible concert in the Annex, hosted by WHCL and the Independent Music Fund (IMF). The crowd was loving it, dancing and screaming — even if they did not know the words to the indie band’s songs. The energy was tangible in the venue and those in attendance felt a direct connection to the performers on stage.

Attendance at the Diet Cig concert hovered around 130, considered a smashing success for the low numbers that campus events usually draw. Many speakers and lecturers that have come to the school have struggled to draw crowds of more than a dozen. In the fall semester, WHCL’s other concert featuring Milo failed to break 100 guests. This semester, the Queer Student Union initially intended to bring a prominent trans speaker to Hamilton but was unable to justify the cost due to abysmal turnouts for the same event the year before. With students wrapped up in academics, sports, and extracurriculars, what hope does the community have of attracting guest talent if the response is so lukewarm? And why do students not seem to care about who is coming to Hamilton?

One potential explanation would be lack of publicity. With the constant influx of emails to our Hamilton accounts, it is difficult to efficiently disseminate information through the LISTSERV. When trying to advertise an event for any given day, there is certainly going to be competition for the attention of the student body. Many students, myself included, simply ignore the vast majority of emails that are not immediately relevant to their lives, meaning that notices about campus speakers and performers can become easily lost in the mess of information we all receive on a daily basis.

Another possibility is that, as a student body, we are apathetic about the opportunity to see guests as they come to campus. After a long week of studying and job shifts, it can be difficult to find the energy or the time to leave the dorm and go see a concert or lecturer. This, coupled with Hamilton’s tiny student body and the plethora of events and speakers to attend, means that there is an intense competition among organizations for attendees. As such, the student population will inevitably spread out around campus, and it is unlikely that any event, speaker, or artist will be able to secure the attention of more than a small group of students, with the notable exception of Class and Charter Day. While the multitude of guests we bring to campus is a great opportunity for all students, it can also drive down the number of attendees.

So what if no events can really capture the attention of the whole campus? It seems like the worst that can come from that is the awkward empty space at the back of the Annex, or a slew of empty seats in the Red Pit. In reality, however, poor attendance at campus events hurts the ability of student organizations to bring notable acts to campus.Many acts or speakers are disinclined to return due to the enthusiastic response from the student population. Word spreads fast among academics and musicians alike, and if a talented speaker does not receive the reception they were hoping for, Hamilton’s apparent apathy towards guests can limit options for future events.

Hamilton offers an incredible array of guest performances and lecturers, and unless they are mandated by a class, attendance is usually poor regardless of the event itself. But when it comes down to it there will never be another time in our lives when we can go and see such talent for free, just a short walk from our front doors. So take advantage of what we have, because it may not last.