Hello friends, faculty and staff!
Welcome to Around the Horn! Where the wonderful, wacky and mystifying events in and “around” Bluffton University are put on display for all to see.
There’s lots of stuff we’re going to cover, so I will get right into it.
Saturday, April 7, three campus light poles were brutally destroyed.
“The cost of replacing a broken light pole is about $700 each,” said buildings and grounds supervisor, Mustaq Ahmed.
“We lose an average 10 to 15 post top lamps each year to vandalism…sometimes more. It took the buildings and grounds staff about 45 minutes approximately to clean up each pole that was knocked down after we became aware of the reports of downed poles.”
Most importantly however, safety.
“We think it is a very dangerous thing to do. The light poles have electrical connections and could possibly electrocute someone in the process,” explained Ahmed. “The areas where the lights are vandalized also darkens the area which creates additional safety challenges for those using the sidewalks at night.”
Bluffton University has to set a standard for excellence, rather than delinquency. Tearing up the community is not going to help build the community.
What will help build the community?
Civic Engagement Day.
This very important event for Bluffton went very well, in my opinion.
A few thoughts on Civic Engagement Day:
Sophomore Robert McMullen-Ruppert stated, “I am super glad that I’m on the committee for Civic Engagement Day because it allows me to get to every session. So far, I have liked every presentation that I’ve been to and I have enjoyed every session.”
After giving her presentation, freshman Kylie Brock let out a deep breath and said, “I was definitely nervous especially since the subject matter was kind of touchy. I just didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable”.
Her favorite part? Community.
Photo by Colten McCabe.
“I felt like I could connect with the community of Bluffton more since it was about LGBTQ rights,” explained Brock. “I got to see a new side of everyone’s opinions. I like being able to connect with people on subject matter that is important to me”
Civic Engagement Day helps to build the community of Bluffton. I personally believe that while some people may find the event extremely boring and useless, we definitely need events like Civic Engagement Day. I was able to talk with fellow students and professors that I had never spoken to before, just because of Civic Engagement Day.
Another big event that helps to build the Bluffton community is the annual Lil’ Sibs Weekend.
The weekend kicked off with a raffle in Bob’s Place. Everyone was able to participate as people were handed four tickets by the marvelous Nicole “Five Cent” Centofanti (Nicole = Nickel and Centofanti = cent). These tickets were doubled so that there were two of each ticket. The tickets were then called by number, and whoever’s ticket matched that number, won the prize.
As the raffle went on, I was given the opportunity to come up with questions for extra raffle tickets! The fantastic “Raffle Master” Sophie Hobbs came up with an amazing idea for the raffle. Contestants would come up to the front and have to finish the song lyric for a chance to earn extra tickets! Who was singing the lyrics you may ask? None other than Ty Avila the “Raffle Dealaaa” (the nicknames are less important than the raffle).
The raffle was a lot of fun, and I am glad that I was able to be a part of this experience with my fellow Wit staffers!
The main event of Lil’ Sibs Weekend took place in the Sommer Center.
Packed with bouncy houses, face and sunglasses painting, a huge soccer dart board, human bowling in hamster balls, a scavenger hunt and plenty of other fun activities, the event was a major success!
Alongside with Lil’ Sibs Weekend was the Annual Riley Creek Festival Duck Race.
First, you would buy the duck (a plastic rubber duck, not an actual duck). Then, you would give your information just in case your duck won. The ducks had numbers on them, so if your number matched the number on the duck’s that won, then you would win the money!
I, unfortunately, was not able to attend the duck race, however, as I was walking back to my dorm, I was able to catch some of the event. The event was fun to watch as kids, students and some adults ran alongside the Riley Creek in hopes that their duck would win.
(Incoming duck pun)
And without “feather” ado, your advice for the week, courtesy of Brent Schroeder, Bluffton University alumni class of 2013:
“Don’t be afraid to admit that you’re wrong. College isn’t about reaffirming your pre-existing thoughts or values – it’s about helping you learn how to articulate what you actually believe. Sometimes that means you’ll change what you believe; that’s okay!”
Whether if you’re knocking down light poles, giving presentations on Civic Engagement Day, winning raffles, sliding down monster inflatable slides or basing your financial status by floating rubber ducks down a river, just remember that everything comes back “Around the Horn.”
Have a good week, and enjoy the nice weather!
