Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on campus life lingers as organizers attempt to attract Toros.
Parking lots at CSUDH fill up early and empty fast most days. As a commuter campus, students are constantly making a circuit between home, work, and classes. Usually, that doesn’t leave too much time for extracurricular activities.
An estimated 14,200 students are enrolled this year at CSUDH, according to the university’s 2025 Fact Sheet. Seventy-five percent are full-time students, with at least 60% receiving some form of financial aid. At least 44% are first-generation students, and the average Toro is 25 years old.
When students are busy juggling classes and work schedules, the idea of community can sometimes fall by the wayside. For campus clubs, that means fewer people attending events and engaging the resources available to help make their college experience as fulfilling as possible.
“Our attendance was quite low. I’d say we averaged around four people,” said Rodrigo Timis, treasurer of the Math Club. “After the first two months of this semester, we’ve had around five to six people come every time, and recently the numbers have gone up. Now, the average is eight people.”
The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on campus life, even after Toros started returning in the spring of 2022. Although enrollment at CSUDH has rebounded somewhat, the student population is still below where it was before 2020.
“Many students aren’t exposed to club opportunities and miss out on getting involved,” said Troy Bartels, coordinator for Leadership, Engagement, and Development (LEAD). “After COVID, many students lack experience with clubs. Some only join late, realizing they need leadership or résumé experience before graduating.”
For some students, the priority is staying on top of classwork or making ends meet—hanging out on campus any longer than necessary is just not mission-critical.
Arielle Rodriguez, a history major, expressed their genuine interest in joining campus clubs. However, they explained that outside responsibilities make it difficult to find the time and the energy to engage more in student life on campus.
“I come here, go to class, and leave,” said Arielle Rodriguez, a history student, “It’s not that I don’t want to be involved. I just don’t have the time between work and my commute.”
Facing ongoing challenges, student clubs have found creative ways to stand out while staying true to their mission. By rethinking how they promote themselves and connect with peers, whether on social media or in person, they’ve managed to capture attention and show students that campus involvement is worth the effort.
“One of the events we held a while ago was a scavenger hunt. A lot of people really enjoyed it, and we gained new club members,” said Samantha Armillas, president of the Anthropology Club. “Hosting events that engage students and using platforms like Discord really helps students who feel uncomfortable in new environments ease in and have fun. For me, building community for students is what it’s all about.”