By Jessica Wind (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: October 17, 2012
Never again will students need to ask, “What’s the daily special?”
In 140 characters or less, AfterMath will be tweeting daily specials directly to students’ phones and computers around campus from @AfterMathToday.
That’s right; AfterMath Socialhouse is joining the plethora of UFV affiliates on Twitter. The campus pub has already overhauled their information on the SUS website and launched a Facebook page, and any day now the restaurant will begin tweeting updates as well.
According to manager Brad Ross the account was actually launched over nine months ago, but no one seemed to remember. “It got lost when we did Facebook and the new website with SUS and we just never used it,” Ross explains.
But after some gentle cajoling from AfterMath patrons, Ross decided to start.
He hopes that the use of Twitter in conjunction with other social media will bring more students out to the social house.
Along with the daily specials, AfterMath’s Twitter account will also be home Ross’ personal brand of humour – general rants.
“I’m probably the most politically incorrect person on this campus, so why not?” Ross says, explaining that it’s the sort of humour he thinks students can relate to.
However, the real draw to Twitter is the connections it will help AfterMath build. Many clubs and associations at UFV are active with their social media sites, and Ross hopes to join them in hashtagging their way to collective student awareness.
The most followed account is @goUFV with over 2700 followers, which is run by the institution and tweets about everything and anything pertaining to the university.
Other departments, like Ross, are also moving online with their information distribution. The varsity sports department tweets play-by-plays and final scores via @UFVCascades. Last week @UFVCareerCentre launched, as did @ufvcics, representing the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies. Both of these departments said they are looking to get more students involved with events on campus through tweeting.
AfterMath has become a common choice for events on campus that require good food made to order, a welcoming atmosphere and and/or alcoholic beverages.
By using Twitter in conjunction with the restaurant’s other social media outlets, Ross plans to continue to build the relationship with student clubs.
“I love my student clubs,” Ross notes. “I work closely with [Chris Doyle, VP social] on making things happen.”
There have been many tweet-worthy events held at AfterMath already this year, and many more on the horizon. They have accommodated the Business Administration Student Association’s BASA Bash, English Students Association’s Words and Wine, The Louden Singletree’s magazine launch, and more recently the Sociology Anthropology Undergraduate Society’s Sauced with SAUS event. AfterMath has also housed more formal events including an English class’s recitation presentations and the SUS AGM.
After all, the AfterMath Twitter is intended to serve as one more way for information about these events to reach students.
