The NIU Athletics Department will gain a better understanding of students’ perspectives surrounding football games thanks to Ben Clark, freshman business administration major, and Timothy Aurand, professor of marketing.

Clark and Aurand, his mentor in their Research Rookies project, will survey students to get their thoughts on the game.

“We are working with the NIU Athletics Department to get a better understanding surrounding NIU football games,” Aurand said. “We will be surveying NIU students and we want to understand which aspects do they enjoy the most and which areas have opportunity for improvement.”

Clark said the surveys will play an important part in their project.

“The survey for NIU students determines their overall satisfaction levels with their experiences at home NIU football games,” Clark said. “I am working alongside the NIU Athletics Department to help them meet their required goals for Vision 2020.”

Once the surveys are complete, Aurand and Clark will bring them to the Athletic Department.

“We’ll share the surveys with the athletics department marketing area so they can make changes to further enhance the experience of students attending football games,” Aurand said.

Aurand said the role of a mentor is like one of a facilitator.

“A facilitator helps to guide,” Aurand said. “It is not the goal of the mentor to do the research.”

Aurand said he enjoyed working with Clark.

Clark said he is grateful for the opportunity to be a research rookie.

“To me, being a Research Rookie means getting a head start on my major, making great connections, and having fun at the same time,” Clark said.