A cluster of determined competitors lined the waist-high walls of the inflatable pit, each stooping with concentrated eyes and action-ready hands. In the center, an individual with a red ball began throwing the object into the air. In one loud symphony, eager participants shouted the words that would commence the game: “GA-GA-BALL!”
This was the scene on Sunday, February 2, when streams of NMU students poured into the Superior Dome to experience Wildcat Field Day.
The event, organized through the collective efforts of the Center for Student Enrichment (CSE), the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University (ASNMU) and NMU Rec Sports featured a plethora of activities that allowed field-goers to engage with their competitive spirit.
Nostalgic games such as tug-of-war, four square, Spike ball and cornhole among many others were set up inside the Superior Dome, where students could compete from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. NMU club sports members helped run the event, and received funding for their respective organizations in exchange for offering their assistance.
NMU Senior and Special Events Coordinator Tas Stoetzner—one of the key facilitators for the event—wanted to create a space where students could be active on campus.
“I want to give students a fun experience on campus… It’s an opportunity to meet a stranger and make a friend,” said Stoetzner.
For those less interested in competition but still wanting to stay active, the event provided alternative fun. An inflatable basketball bouncy house and a Zumba class were available to all, drawing a crowd of over forty students who danced in a sweat-inducing frenzy to Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”
All who attended could enter a raffle for a chance to pick from an assortment of prizes. Options ranged from a brand-new pair of snowshoes to a wool blanket set, complete with an NMU beanie.
Winners were announced via megaphone sporadically throughout the afternoon. Students who were too occupied with the activities to select a prize were contacted by email to collect their reward at a later time.
“Whenever I talk to my parents or friends who were in college and graduated, they always talk about the fun things they did on campus, and my first year I wasn’t active at all,” said Stoetzner. “I want to make the incoming freshmen, sophomores—every grade—have more fun on campus and get more involved in activities that Northern has to offer.”
For those who missed out on Sunday’s fun, the NMU Special Events Committee is hosting an “Art On A Log” event in the Northern Center on Wednesday, February 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Students will have the chance to sip mocktails and display their artistic talents on pieces of wood provided by the committee.
