30 April 2019
Brianna Kraemer
The end of the semester is approaching quickly, and with that come many different activities and events around campus to look forward to.
The Send Silence Packing event is a national tour provided by Active Minds. The event focuses on ending the silence surrounding mental illness and suicide. According to Active Minds, 39 percent of college students experience a significant mental health issue, which they are hoping to bring awareness.
The event will consist of an all-day display on May 2 of over 1,000 backpacks, each representing a college student that has died by suicide.
Students will have the opportunity to interact with various campus and community resources, walk through the display, and participate in the “Fail Trail.”
The “Fail Trail” is chalking along the Spine. Individuals can chalk representations of “failure” with words or images.
The goal is to normalize the idea that we all face challenges and go through hard times.
“De-Stress with DIY Stress Balls” is a roaring weekend event that will help to relieve stress students face during finals week. Materials and instructions will be provided for students to make their own stress balls in a relaxing environment.
The purpose of the event is to provide students with an event where they can relieve some of their stress with the overload of assignments, projects and exams. This is the first time that Student Life will hold this event which will occur on May 3 at 2:00 p.m. in Breckenridge 5101.
Greek Week will begin on May 2 and go through May 5. Kenidi Dyer is the president of the Greek Programming Board and is in charge of greek week.
She explained what Greek Week is about saying, “Greek Week is a four-day-long competition event that Greek life has normally in April or May. This year our theme is big Greek game show.”
The first day will consist of the opening ceremonies and games like jeopardy and fraternity feud will be played.
Dryer continued by stating that “each game is scored and the six Greek organizations have the opportunity to compete with one another to earn points. This night we also do a little flag ceremony and the presidents hold their chapter’s flag and walk around to represent their chapter.”
May 3 consists of an outdoor game show, and May 4 is powder puff football between the two sororities. The final day is the Greek awards, a formal event that all Greek life members get to vote on.
Finals Fuel is an event hosted by Student Life that will take place in the UC on May 13. This evening is free and open to everyone.
The beach-party-themed event will have games to play, free food and giveaways including T-shirts, beach balls and coasters. A live cover band and life-size board games will be in Berger hall for all to enjoy. Breakfast will be served for dinner by campus administration.
One of the final events of the year will be held for residents moving out. The Think Before You Toss event is hosted by local business, Who Gives a SCRAP.
Finals week through move-out Saturday, donation trucks will be located outside Monarch, Eldora and Antero residence halls to donate gently used bed sheets, clothes, lamps, canned food, decorations, etc.
The donation event has occurred on campus since 2008 and is a great way to recycle and reuse unwanted items.
Kimberly Reeves is the senior sustainability programs manager and commented on the event.
“We usually receive two truck loads worth of donations. We’re hoping to increase that volume this year, especially because one of the donation recipient organizations is One Nation Walking Together, and three of their reservations they support are currently underwater due to flooding.”
“They are in need of all household goods, clothes, etc. to get them back on their feet.”
Donations from this year’s event will go to the Nation Walking Together, Clyde’s Cupboard, Upadowna, Who Gives a SCRAP and Cat Haven.
There will be additional drop-off locations inside some of the residential halls. Students can look for signage throughout the halls and at the waste stations on each floor.
Other fun events occurring in May include the Pause for Paws therapy dog event for a quick study break in the Kraemer family library on May 8, 9 and 13. Game night on May 9 in Columbine hall will have many activities and prizes to give away.
UCCS will be the place to be for the final weeks of the semester as studying, events and activities ramp up.