Recently, the Student Activities Council hosted a TikTok Wars competition for students to participate in from all over the country.
Eight students sent in original TikTok videos for the contest, which were then posted on the SAC Facebook and Instagram accounts for followers to vote on by liking the video they thought was best.
Allison Hudson, assistant director of student engagement, said SAC decided that they wanted to continue to provide programs and opportunities for the campus community to come together and connect with one another while all separated across the country.
“Our TikTok Wars was just a way for us to keep the students engaged as we transition to a virtual environment,” Hudson said. “TikTok is a big craze right now, so this event was a chance for students to make their own videos and submit them to this contest because why not spread some joy and some fun during this time?”
Hudson said the idea for a TikTok Wars contest was brought up by Kalen Castor, executive director for the student activities council.
“After everything went virtual, a lot of resources went out within different student affairs and higher education professional resources to kind of share what was working on other campuses and what other campuses were doing,” Hudson said. “It was really important in that way that different campuses were supporting one another and helping to provide resources in a time when it’s very difficult and different from what we are usually doing within our jobs. But it was Kalen who saw that and kind of customized it to fit for OCU.”
Austin Jones, music theater sophomore, is on the SAC executive committee and said SAC decided to continue providing activities for students after the shift to an online format.
“Right now is such a stressful time for everyone and we might as well be doing something. We aren’t really doing anything outside of going to school but for some people now that means signing into one Zoom class a day, so people have some time on their hands,” Jones said. “We met as an executive committee, and we had things planned for the entire semester and TikTok Wars were brought up so we did that, and it was a huge success.”
Jones said the TikTok Wars event was one of the best responses on the SAC social media pages ever.
“We have a lot of people attend our on campus events, but we told people to like their favorite TikTok and we have gotten a lot of responses with over one hundred likes on almost all of the submissions,” Jones said. “It’s been really good to see not only people getting creative or giving us feedback, but people who take the time to make the TikToks for our competition as well as the people who are engaging and participating by liking the posts. They are all funny, they are all fun, and I love that people are being creative.”
Hudson said the event was just one of many that SAC has been planning throughout the rest of the online semester.
“There is also a capture and click contest where people can recreate a photo that you have seen whether it is a childhood photo or a photo in a museum. We have a Zoom’s Got Talent show coming up, and we will be having a live yoga class with an alum. And we are also doing a senior showcase at the end of the year,” Hudson said.
Hudson said students should check in online to other upcoming activities.
“I encourage everyone to continue to follow along on our social media and be on the lookout for new events and ways to participate and think about how they can spread joy as well,” Hudson said.
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