Grills and gladiators

The air over McMicken Commons filled with laughter, music and the smell of grilling hamburgers as the 2003 Spring Student Cookout kicked off on McMicken Commons Tuesday afternoon.  

Student Government and the Campus Ministries Association collaborated to offer students an afternoon of music and free food.  

Alex Spears, a member of Student Body President Darren Tolliver's cabinet, organized the event, working with Campus Ministries as well as several companies that donated food and supplies for the event. 

Wyoming Meat Market contributed the hamburgers and hot dogs, Grippos provided bags of chips and Pepsi donated 60 cases of soda, according to Spears. 

"We organized the cookout for the students so they can have fun and relax," Spears said.  

"It's also a big 'thank you' from the president and vice president for a good year." The event drew a large crowd as students lined up for free lunch and sprawled out across the lawn. Starting at 11:30 a.m., volunteers served 720 hamburgers, 330 hot dogs, 70 veggie burgers and 60 cases of soda to students and faculty. 

The Campus Ministries Association set up a listening table and had volunteers on hand to pass out information about religious organizations on campus and to speak with interested students. 

While some students tossed a football, others chose to shed their shoes and engage in the inflatable activities provided by Partywerks.  

These included an inflatable joust, an inflatable obstacle course and a Tug and Dunk, which requires two people who are tied together with a bungee cord to dunk bean bags into baskets at opposite sides of the inflatable court. 

Mike Spaulding, a Partywerks employee, said his company provides inflatable games for many college campuses. 

He said he had worked at a similar event at Purdue University last week. 

Spaulding added that inflatable games are perfect for events such as the one at McMicken Commons. "Any time you get warm weather and an outdoor cookout-type setting, the inflatables are a lot of fun," he said. 

Adding to the festive atmosphere, The Tim and Aaron Band played a set of eclectic-acoustic music, including songs from The Dave Matthews Band to the Beastie Boys.  

Band members Tim Hirons and Aaron Hendrick of Cincinnati work as fulltime musicians and perform all over the Tristate area, Hirons said.  

Included in the crowd of attendees was Student Body President-elect Ron Ricks. Taking a break from jousting, he said the event was part of an effort to make Student Government's contribution to the student body more visible.  

Judging from the crowd's response, Student Government achieved that goal.  

"This is great," said Isaac Waters, a first-year communication student.  

"It's bringing together fellow students," added Waters.  

David Schutte, a first-year pre-medical student, added that this is his first experience with a Student Government activity and that the event made a good first impression. 

According to Spears, the Spring Student Cookout occurs annually and students can expect a similar event in the fall.