With the beginning of a new school year, a new 60 in 6 is also beginning. 60 in 6 is 60 different events spread throughout the first six weeks of school. The events help promote community, one of Bluffton’s core values, and provide an opportunity for new students to get to know their peers.
This year’s 60 in 6 events kicked off Aug. 24, with Marbeck Center Board’s Paint-U event. The full slate of 60 events will conclude Oct. 13, with the homecoming football game followed by a dance. According to first-year student Hunter Fleck, the Paint-U event was a success.
“It was a lot of fun,” Fleck said. “I danced all night and met some new people.”
Marbeck Center Board will host several other activities as well, including a trip to Shirley’s Popcorn at 6 p.m. Aug. 29. Students who want to participate should meet in the Kiva. From there, students will walk as a group to Shirley’s.
“Pete [Suter], the owner of Shirley’s, is doing something special for us this year,” said Kevin White, advisor to Marbeck Center Board. “Everyone will get a small bag of popcorn and a bottle of soda as well. You can choose your flavor and choose whatever bottle of soda you want.”
Another event White said he is looking forward to is mentalist Chris Carter. This will take place at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 5 in the Marbeck Commons.
“I know last year we had Chris Jones in, he’s a hypnotist, and people were really excited about that,” White said. “This guy’s a little different. He’ll do some mind tricks and things like that, and involve the students a little bit. I’m really excited about that, he’s nationally known.”
A new addition to the 60 in 6 calendar this year is glow slip-n-slide kiddie pool kickball. This event will be hosted by Student Senate from 8 to 10 p.m Sept. 8.
“It’s going to be kiddie pools with water, and you get from place to place on the slip-n-slide after you kick,” said senate advisor Julie DeGraw. “We’re doing it at night, and we are going to put the glow stuff on the ball. That’s a new thing; we just came up with it.”
Many fall sports teams are represented on the 60 in 6 calendar. Men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, football and golf all have competitions on the list of events. The first one is a men’s and women’s cross country meet at 9 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Bluffton University Nature Preserve.
“With this being our very first meet of the season, it would be amazing to see people from the campus there,” said senior cross country runner Jacob Hill. “We have a new coaching staff this year, so that’ll be their first meet with the program as well. We’re looking forward to getting out there and putting on a show this year, we think we can do some pretty exciting things.”
Campus Ministries will host several events as well. According to campus pastor Stephen “Tig” Intagliata, the goal of Campus Ministries is to help support students in connecting with God, building Christian community with others and explore the big questions of life and faith together. Campus Ministries will host a campfire social at 9 p.m. Aug. 29 at the fire circle between Ropp Hall and Musselman Library.
“Everyone’s welcome to come out,” Intagliata said. “There’s some singing, people are going to be sharing about their summer and also their hopes for this year ahead. It’ll be a time of getting to know some other students around the campfire. There will be some s’mores.”
A complete list of 60 in 6 events can be found on the Bluffton University website.
