The Office of Student Life has brought a little taste of winter back with the university’s first ever outdoor ice skating rink.
The skating rink will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday until Friday at the SRWC outdoor courts and is free for all staff, faculty and students.
Student life communications and activities coordinator Alyssa Ellison said the event was chosen from a list compiled by students.
“Our students helped come up with ideas of events that would be fun to host on campus; and this particular one was unique and was the top contender,” Ellison said.
The SRWC outdoor courts have hosted a number of events, but it will be the first time they will be transformed into a winter wonderland. This winter wonderland, Ellison said, is designed to kick off the new semester.
“We are not promoting anything,” Ellison said. “This event is designed to celebrate a new semester and fun on campus and allow students to unwind during a busy and stressful week.”
Although it is unique in all aspects, Ellison said the longevity of this event still depends on participation.
“As of now, it is a one-time event, but we could potentially make it an annual event if we receive good feedback from students and have a high student participation rate,” Ellison said.
The rink will be funded by the student activity fee – a fee Student Life hopes to use to use for various events this semester.
“We do have other events planned for the semester, but we do not have confirmed contracts just yet, so we do not want to disclose as to what we have in the works until everything is solidified,” Ellison said.
Although student life has been planning the event for a little while, it still came as a bit of a surprise for students like senior kinesiology major Ryan Jordan.
“Well, initially when I was told that there was a skating rink, I thought that they were lying to me and they were playing a prank just trying to make me walk all the way out to the basketball court at Rec,” Jordan said.
With weather ranging from 30 degrees to 60 degrees over the next three days, the event will cater to anyone needing just one last glimpse of winter holidays.
“I think it’s a really cool idea,” Jordan said. “I’m glad that we are trying to set up things for the students to get involved in and have some fun on campus.”
