Posted on: September 24, 2021 Posted by: Glacier Staff Comments: 0

Photo by Marcus Collins

By Marisa Bresnahan, JRN 111 Student

A game was used to engage students in visiting the different tables at Fall Fest.

After COVID-19 put campus life on hold for the past year and a half, a little rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the 250 students attending Fall Fest on Tuesday in the U Building.

“I was nervous about moving the event inside due to rain, but was pleasantly surprised with the turnout,” said Amanda Bendoraitis, Student Life Manager and Fall Fest organizer. Fall Fest had been scheduled to be held outdoors on the Gateway.

The event featured food and fun, including an ax throwing blowup activity, mini golf, a “Game of Fall Fest” task, a game of giant chess and a spin art activity. But the main purpose of the event was to showcase clubs and organizations available on campus.

Last year, the Fest was cancelled due to COVID-19, so Bendoraitis said it was great to see Moraine students walking around visiting the different tables and activities.

Having fall fest was “really important,” said Jan Kopischke, student publications adviser, who was at the event to recruit writers and photographers for The Glacier. “It’s nice to have the noise,” she said with a grin.

Adhering to COVID protocols presented a challenge in the planning of this year’s fest. The food company, Country House, made sure that the food provided was safely and individually wrapped, Bendoraitis said.

“We did require students to show their blue or green Cleared4Class pass to receive food,” she said. Cleared4Class is now used on campus to make sure students, faculty and staff remain safe from the transmission of coronavirus.

Bendoraitis also took COVID safety into account when planning activities. “I only rented activities that could be wiped down after each use,” she said.

To encourage students to walk around and engage with the different booths, the event featured the “Game of Fall Fest.” Student Sammy Adejare handed out game cards. Adejare explained that if a student visited a certain number of booths, “you win a $5 Dunkin’ gift card.”

Moraine Valley