Photo by Jeremy Leong, staff photographer
Drake University gave students another reason to celebrate Friday night. On Friday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., Olmsted Center was transformed into an intersection of live entertainment, arts and craft projects, mini-golf and even hip-hop instruction. The event was free for all students.
“The idea is just to get a bunch of different organizations on campus together in a cumulative event,” said sophomore Abbey Barrow, Student Activities Board campus impact member.
Represented groups included Alpha Phi Omega, Colleges Against Cancer, SAB, Residence Hall Association and Habitat Against Humanity.
Fellow SAB member, junior Nicole Germann, recognizes a benefit of events like this.
“There are a bunch of different organizations here. It is another way for them to market themselves,” Germann said. She also noted that the event provides an “alcohol alternative” for students on a Friday night.
There was no shortage of things to do for students. On the main floor of Olmsted, there was a table offering free raffle ticket with possible prizes, including gift cards, apparel and even a tablet. Venturing upstairs, a variety of doors led to different options. One of these was a craft room, where students could make themselves a hat and bag and receive and an intricate henna tattoo. While that was going on, across the hall, students were getting in a late night work out with a hip-hop class.
Immersed in the decorating of her canvas bag, sophomore Katia Degtyareva said, “I am enjoying the variety of things they have. They have more crafts and activities going on this year compared to last.”
The schedule of events for the night also included mini golf, cash cab, karaoke and a comedian.
To top off the night, there was a performance by the Brocal Chords. Clearing out after the concert, students’ hands were piled high with various tokens from the night (for one lucky person that included a tablet) and their heads were ringing with the melodic tunes of the Brocal Chords. The event gave students a memorable Friday night
“Celebrate Drake was a unique experience,” said first-year Morgan Sekhon. “They did a very nice job putting it all together.” Fellow first-year Shelby Derrick nodded her head in agreement, “I really enjoyed it. They had a lot of fun things to do. I would for sure go again next year.”
