Low funding leaves Geek Week with 2 days

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By Courtney Thomas

The once weeklong celebration of the UK’s College of Arts and Sciences, this year’s Geek Week has been turned into a two-day event. 

“We want to have events throughout the entire semester, but we will mainly focus on April 6th and 7th,” said Megan Pendley, student ambassador and Geek Week student coordinator.       

The weather and lack of funding have been factors in deciding the dates this semester, said Shaun Ketterman, a freshman adviser for the College of Arts and Sciences and sponsor of Geek Week.      

“The main concerns about Geek Week are budgetary concerns and another thing is spring break and Easter,” said Ketterman. “Students need to keep their ears open for news because we are working on it and we have had a lot of changes come our way.”      

Geek Week has received help with funding in the past from organizations like Student Government, said Adrienne McMahan, assistant dean of undergraduate affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Since we are a student organization, student government association has given us some money before to help with the t-shirts, the college advisory aboard has helped out as well, along with the help of a few other organizations,” said McMahan.

Francie Chassen-Lopez, department of history chair, will be a keynote speaker during one of the days and other activities such as career events and faculty and student presentations will also be present, McMahan said.      

The variety of departments and majors in the College of Arts and Sciences are able to come together for Geek Week and it is something worth making happen, Pendley said.

“Geek Week has been an opportunity to get both the liberal arts and sciences to come together and really showcase who we are and I have full faith in the program,” Pendley said. “Despite having to shorten Geek Week to two days, the College of Arts and Sciences plans on making Geek Week a success.”