Sebastián Abdón Ibarra
Metro Editor
To gear up for the University of La Verne football team’s Homecoming game, the Campus Activities Board hosted a pep rally for students on Nov. 5 in Sneaky Park. The event included food trucks, music, and free giveaways.
“These events let you enjoy some free stuff, enjoy campus life, and see other people you normally don’t see,” Aidan Ramos, senior business administration major, said. “I need to take a break from class.”
Students got free food, the Habit truck that served burgers and fries, was particularly popular. An AmazeBowls food truck, which served açaí and smoothie bowls was also appreciated.
“I was really excited… I don’t think we’ve had the Habit, at least not this year,” said Samantha Congleton, senior educational studies major and CAB member.
Food trucks are so popular with students, especially those living on campus, because they offer a welcome change from dining hall fare, Congleton said.
There were tables where students could eat, enjoy the music, and talk with friends.
Around a hundred students were in attendance. Others chose to lounge on the lawn or picnic on the concrete steps of Sneaky Park.
After eating, there was time to collect free stuff: pillows, reusable plastic water bottles, and airbrushed tote bags with the student’s name – the most popular item of the day. The line for these bags stretched the length of the Wilson Library.
Being mindful of COVID, students were asked to wear their masks when not eating. That fact didn’t seem to affect turnout very much, one student said they were surprised by the turnout.
Congleton said she was most excited about the airbrush station in the CAB planning process. The totes let students customize their own bags.
Congleton worked the pillow booth with Samantha Miller, sophomore psychology and theater major. Miller said all the hard work planning and preparing for the event paid off, when she got to see students having so much fun.
“I know that these events are a good way for everyone to come together. Even if you come with a different group, you always see someone you know,” Miller said. “It’s a good reward at the end of the week.”
Miller said that CAB made safety the No. 1 priority, with CAB officers making sure everyone wore their masks.
Participants echoed Miller’s enthusiasm.
It’s very interactive and spirited,” said Alyssa Brand, freshman biology major. “It feels like they’ve done it before, it’s not chaotic.
For Ramos the event was a breath of fresh air allowing him to forget about classes for a moment, he said.
Sebastián Abdón Ibarra can be reached at sebastian.ibarra@laverne.edu.
Jingyao Liang, a junior business administration major and photography minor, is a staff photographer for the Campus Times.
