By: Lian Bunny
News Editor
“I hope everyone is looking forward to me making a fool out of myself trying to play kickball. I’m really horrible at sports, so expect great things.”
According to Peter Bertoldo, a sophomore modern languages major, this is the main reason people should attend this year’s Spring Weekend festivities.
On Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, St. Bonaventure will host Spring Weekend festivities on the outdoor basketball courts between the Sandra A. and William L. Richter Center and Reilly Center Arena.
On both Friday and Saturday, the annual kickball tournament will take place.
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) spent approximately $20,000 on this year’s Spring Weekend activities, according to Abby Cohen, associate director for intramurals, club sports and student engagement.
Cohen said this is a slightly higher budget than last year, because students voiced their desire for more live, upbeat music and cover songs they are more familiar with.
Cohen did not provide specific dollar amounts.
On Friday at 4 p.m., WSBU-FM 88.3 The Buzz will officially kick off Spring Weekend and the activities will run until 8 p.m. From 6 to 8, DJ BADVERB will perform, and the evening will culminate at the Rathskeller with a CAB-sponsored lip sync battle.
On Saturday, activities begin at 11 a.m. and run until 7 p.m. on the outdoor basketball courts.
At 11 a.m., the Joe Moorhead Band will play, followed by karaoke at 1 p.m.
At 4 p.m. Gary Johnson, a one-man band, will perform based on students’ texted song requests. Rapper Weston will also perform on Saturday.
Then, from 8 p.m. to midnight Edward Bysiek will DJ in the Rathskeller.
As a new addition to Spring Weekend, a local hairdresser will be putting feathers in students’ hair on Friday evening. The first 100 students will receive feathers, courtesy of CAB.
Also making its Spring Weekend début is an inflatable zip line, which students can experience on Saturday.
Bertoldo, an CAB chair member, said he is really looking forward to the food.
“The change for which I am the most jazzed is Mexican food on Saturday night,” Bertoldo said.
To get food served on the basketball courts both Friday and Saturday, students who have an unlimited, on-campus meal plan will receive a bracelet.
Students with the 75 block meal plan will be able to pay for wristbands with four meal swipes. Those with 100 or 150 block meal plans can pay with five meal swipes. Anyone who wants to pay for a bracelet with Flex Dollars, Bona Bucks or cash will pay $24.29.
Students will only be able to pay for wristbands with cash after 2 p.m. on Friday.
On Wednesday, April 29, students will be able to pick up the bracelets in Francis from 5 to 11 p.m. On Thursday, April 30, students will be able to pick up the bracelets in the Hickey Dining Hall from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. or on Friday, May 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CAB will also be there to have students participating in Spring Weekend sign a waiver and receive an additional bracelet that will give them access to the inflatables, mechanical bull and zip line.
Cohen said she encourages any students interested in helping to plan future Spring Weekends or other campus activities to get involved in CAB. Those interested can contact Cody Didas, CAB president, at didascj12@bonaventure.edu.
According to Cohen, Spring Weekend is a great opportunity for students to have fun before finals.
“I think the purpose of Spring Weekend is to get the entire student body to come together in celebration of the conclusion of another academic year,” Cohen said. “We like to provide as many fun and engaging activities as possible. I definitely think students should participate.”
Bertoldo agreed and said the event has something for everybody.
“Students should participate because a lot of people have been working hard to make sure that students will have a great time this year,” Bertoldo said. “Not only has CAB done a lot, but organizations like ASIA and the Step Team are putting in a great deal of effort to ensure that no one is bored this Spring Weekend. Regardless of who you are, there’s going to be something fun for you at Spring Weekend.”
