Students Get Together For Patriot's Day

Story by Broadside Correspondents Fizah Malik and Thomas McCurdy. Photos by Photography Editor Courtney Erland.

On Saturday Sept. 20, George Mason University’s Program Board hosted Patriot's Day 2008 in Presidents Park. Patriot’s Day 2008 is a fun-filled event with food, games and prizes.

Usually held on the third Thursday of September, the Special Events Committee wanted to make it a weekend event this year. Committee Chair Erin Baker says that they wanted to make the event more accessible to students with a busy schedule during the week.

“We wanted to make a Patriot’s Weekend this year so that there could be more participation from the students,” said Baker.

“It’s a good way for everyone to get out there and meet each other,” said freshman Elan Cameron.

This year’s Patriot’s Day theme was “A Day at the Beach.” The five-hour event offered different student organizations on campus the opportunity to promote their services. Christians on Campus, Pride Alliance and Feminist Ninjas were just some of the organizations out to encourage students to get involved.

Tables of various student activities were advertising and giving away free prizes that included sunglasses, Frisbees, beach balls, telescopes, cotton candy, hot dogs, hamburgers and energy drinks.

"It's been a pretty good day,” said senior Ryan Miller, a student group representative. “We have had a nice steady flow of people coming by."

The student organizations took turns rotating who was out to promote their services. Each organization had one to two hours at the event to have their table set up.

"I’m really happy with all the free food, cotton candy and energy drinks, and with all the people that came out for this," said freshman Taylor Reiman.

According to Baker and Co-Chair Jen Amano, the event was like a “mini-Mason-Day.” Whether invited by the Facebook ad, flyers, chalkings or brought in by the sound of live music, students had filled the lawn.

The park was adorned with green and yellow balloons with football, Frisbee and badminton, just some of the games played by students who took advantage of the weather. The biggest hit at the event was the fortuneteller; students were lining up to know more about their futures.

"It’s pretty chill and I have had a lot to do,” said Freshman Corey Perez, who arrived to the event around 1:30 p.m.

Aside from the organizations on campus, the event also had live bands for entertainment. Different local bands came out to play for Patriot’s Day 2008. The live bands could be heard as far as the Aquatic Center so many students were woken up by the music playing outside their bedrooms. “I heard the band from my dorm, that’s how I decided to come out,” said freshman Bryan Runion. From 12 to 5 p.m. Presidents Park was rocked by four live bands, EarthTone, Mudge, Free Money and Future.

The Greek Life of campus was also a part of the event. The Alpha Omega Pi Sorority was out holding a pie-in-the-face contest.

To get involved with the Special Events Committee and help with events on campus, contact Erin Baker at ebaker2@gmu.edu.