Rock the block party
Student Activities hosts its annual event to kickstart the new school year
Entertainment — Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors and the duet JOHNNYSWIM performed for the crowd. Photo credit: Leah Seavers
Travel north down University Boulevard, and a heavy amount of construction on the LaHaye Ice Rink is generally the only reason to stop and stare. Saturday, Aug. 29 though, past the fences holding dozers and dirt, the LaHaye Student Union parking lot bustled with students instead of cars as the annual Student Activities (SA) Block Party kicked off the new school year.
The stage, set up in the corner of the parking lot closest to Williams Stadium, provided space for students and faculty to browse around some of the LaHaye Student Union parking lot filled with stations featuring carnival rides, inflatable obstacles, and booths with games like ring-toss, and Liberty-sanctioned clubs.
The Student Government Association (SGA), organized for all of Liberty’s clubs to participate in the event, according to SGA President Quincy Thompson.
“From an SGA perspective, we’ve had a lot of club participation,” Thompson said. “So (many) more clubs are at this Block Party than in years past … so that’s been really cool to see, getting students interact(ing) with clubs.”
Students were able to go directly from one club table to the next as they were lined up on the fence line side by side. Liberty Jujitsu club president Aaron Bonaguide verified that making the clubs more tangible for students helps students weigh their choices when thinking about club participation.
“We would love more opportunities to do stuff like this,” Bonaguide said. “It’s a really great opportunity to grow the club and to really showcase one aspect of activities that is available to students. … (This event) shows that not only (does Liberty) have big events, but we also have room for your personal interest.”
Clubs spanned a spectrum from the Liberty University American Sign Language Club to the Book Club to the National Guard. Food stands also provided diversity for Block Party attendees.
Food options included BBQ, Dominoes, Bahama Snow-Shack, Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts, Golf Park Coffee Company and more.
As students and faculty snacked and socialized around the many tents and tables, many returning Block Party attendees had a thought in the back of their minds — will it rain
this year?
“Rain or shine, (the block parties are) always fun,” junior Megan Kruse said.
In previous years, guests have left concerts drenched from head to toe, but this year the only thing in the night sky was the smoke from the fireworks set off behind Thomas Road Baptist Church.
JOHNNYSWIM and Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors headlined this year’s concert.
“Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors (and) JOHNNYSWIM are different (than other tours featured at Liberty because of their music style) but they’re good enough that you can rock n’ roll with them,” junior Garrett Hendrick said.
The Block Party allowed students the opportunity to hear different bands, eat a hot pastry and have something fun to do on a Saturday night. In addition to these social activities, the visibility of campus clubs at the Block Party offered a practical purpose students want to see again.
“(SA) did a great job with the variety and with the different (clubs) from Liberty represented,” junior Morgan Rakes said. “I think the rest of the student body would agree to say maybe we could do more than one block party a year …”
For more information on SA and upcoming events, visit liberty.edu/campusrec/studentactivities.
Tiller is the feature editor.
