For the first time in history, planning and running ETSU-Con will be left entirely up to students, who are eager to make this year’s convention their own.

Sami Morris, 2024 ETSU-Con chair, said that having a team entirely composed of students will keep the convention fresh and up to date on what is trending in the worlds of comics, anime, cosplay and all things pop culture.

2024 ETSU-Con is set to take place from March 23-24 at the D.P. Culp Student Center; last year’s convention saw over 4,000 attendees and Morris has high hopes that this year will exceed those numbers, as well as inspire the ETSU campus and surrounding community to be whoever they want to be.

Morris mentions that ETSU-Con provides a unique opportunity different from other conventions in the area. She said that she considers ETSU-Con to be a safe space for those wanting to express their interest in the world of pop culture and connect with others who share similar interests.

The lack of similar conventions in the area might be an indicator as to why ETSU-Con remains one of ETSU’s largest events. Additionally, unlike other pop culture conventions, Morris said that a goal of ETSU-Con is to have something for everyone. One way in which the convention aims to achieve this goal is by prioritizing family-friendly content, so attendees of all ages are always welcome.

Morris was not able to share the names of any of the potential panelists or guests attending the convention, as they have yet to be confirmed; she urges those interested to get connected with the convention on their Facebook and Instagram accounts to be notified as updates become available. 

One aspect of ETSU-Con this year’s team has chosen to continue is the partner programming that last year’s team started, in which ETSU-Con works with other student organizations on campus throughout the year.

One of these partner events is a trivia night hosted in conjunction with Buctainment this Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Culp Cave. Morris encourages all students to come out to test their knowledge on various pop culture topics for the chance to win a prize.

Photo of the ETSU-Con logo. (Contributed/ETSU-Con)

For more information about 2024 ETSU-Con or any of their partner events, follow @etsucontn on Facebook and Instagram.