Day on the Quad offers something for everyone
Free food, free music and free fun on the Quad attracted thousands of students.
Wednesday’s Day on the Quad, a huge success this year, had its biggest turn out since it began in 1998.
There were 180 tables set up, with about 3,000 people in attendance, said Kathy Leslie, Asciotiated Students of Utah State University activities vice president.
“Breaking records seems to be the theme for this year,” she said about the attendance of all of the events of this year’s Week of Welcome.
The Day on the Quad is an annual event that is provided as part of WOW. It is the one day on campus where all of the university’s clubs, departments and city vendors can get their word out and do their own thing.
Not to mention the live music, free stuff and activities.
“There is a two-point goal that we set for the day on the quad,” Leslie said. “First, is to give students the chance to get out and get some free stuff. And second, it is a great way to get involved, this is the only time that everything will be out on display at once.”
Garrett Savory, a fifth year senior majoring in fish and wildlife, and president of the wildlife society, said that his club has found the Day on the Quad is an efficient way to get people to sign up.
“Not many people know we exist,” Savory said. “It is a good way to advertise our club. We are able to get e-mail addresses, and responses.”
Also attending the activity were some local businesses. Trish Berrett, of Wells Fargo, said that they are able to inform people about the bank, and also let them know of some of the activities that the bank puts on. His booth attracted students by letting them spin a wheel to win prizes such as pens, water bottles and candy.
The fraternities and sororities also found the Day on the Quad a good way to advertise what they are all about.
Scott Chance, a junior majoring in accounting, is a member of the Delta Sigma Phi. He said his fraternity’s goal is to meet some new guys, get its name out and let people know they are around.
“We want to, hopefully, get a lot of girls excited about recruitment. We also wanted to set people straight from the stereotypes of sororities,” said Brittany Henline, a senior majoring in marketing and a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Joe Graham, a junior majoring in computer engineering, is a member of the student activities board. One of the activities that his booth was putting on was “Aggie Fear Factor.” It allowed students to compete in several small events such as enduring the cold of a large ice block and putting your hand into a bucket of gross worms and crickets.
Students competed for DVDs, tickets to the HOWL and homecoming and cookies.
Another activity at the Day on the Quad was rock climbing, provided by the Army National Guard.
“I came to see if there were any clubs I could join, so I can get involved,” said Marty Sillito, a sophomore majoring in landscape architecture. “But I would have to say that the rock climbing was my favorite part.”
Another student, Nathan Buckner, a junior majoring in pre-dental biological engineering, came to the Day on the Quad to see what it was all about, get free stuff and maybe join a club.
Students who weren’t planning on joining any clubs or even attending the Day on the Quad, found themselves drawn by the free food and music.
Two different bands took the stage in the center of the Quad throughout the day.
Haesen Pfeffer, a senior majoring in history education and member of the band Haesenpfeffer and the Bombdiggitty, said when the school asked them to play, they were excited.
“It has been a good thing to be background music to add to the energy of the day,” Pfeffer said.
The other band that took the stage was called Sittser.
“Sittser is an up and coming band from Spokane Wash., who is making it big, and luckily came to play here at USU for us,” Leslie said.
Commenting on the atmosphere of the day, William Weiss, a sophomore majoring in political science said, “The music is definitely chill, and those who are new to campus can get a feel for it, and what goes on here.”
-kbanks@cc.usu.edu