Spring Break
Springfest Block Party offers laser tag, mechanical bull rides for URI students
Lindsay Lorenz
Issue date: 4/11/07 Section: News
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The Block Party, presented by the Student Entertainment Committee, featured free activities and refreshments for students outside the Memorial Union.
Sophomore Alison Sauer, advertising chairwoman for the Union Board, said this year's festivities were a success even with temperatures that reached just 50 degrees.
"Considering the weather, it's been good," she said. "I think it gets better every year."
Not so successful were the countless students who tried to hang on to a mechanical bull.
"I'm not impressed with the athleticism of the people," said Joel Boisvert of Party Visions, the company that operated the mechanical bull and nearby laser tag.
However, in their defense he said, "It is pretty difficult."
Freshman Amanda Dailey took a ride on the bull.
"I was bad at it," she said. "It's a trick. The seats are all slippery and you only have this little rope to hang on to."
"Lazer Encounter" was a choice destination for many students. The gray, inflatable bouncy house, on which a giant alien roosted on top, offered students a chance to battle one another with the aid of vests and laser guns.
"It can occupy two to four people in a six-minute game," Ted Rousseau of Party Visions said.
Rousseau said at least 100 students played a game.
Another popular activity was the air house, where students donned giant helmets and boxing gloves.
Freshmen Matt Summit and Sean Murphy took out their personal frustrations with a round of boxing.
"We had a lot of personal things to settle," Murphy said, half-joking.
Both students recommended the activity to their peers.
"It was a lot of fun," Summit said. "But I wish we didn't have to wear gloves."
Crafty students waited in line to design their own flying discs.
"It's like spin art," said freshman Amanda Thornton.
Students picked different colored paints and then secured a white disc in a box. The colors were distributed as the toy spun, thus creating an original work of art.
"It was interesting," said Thornton, who designed a pink and purple disc.
For $1, SEC offered up unlimited ice cream and toppings at the "One Ton Sundae Booth."
"It's an SEC tradition, we do it every year," said SEC Special Events President Jennifer Baker, a junior.
Of the eight drums of ice cream, the traditional chocolate and vanilla flavors proved the favorites, and Baker estimated SEC served close to 300 students.
Elsewhere, many student clubs and organizations set up tables to inform students of upcoming activities and invited them to join.
Junior Meghan Williamson of STARS attended to promote her organization, which helps greet visitors to the university during special events, among other things.
"We figured we could get our name out there," Williamson said.
Renaissance Yearbook invited students to make picture frames from fun foam.
Junior Kaila Corwin, an editor at the yearbook, encouraged all students, not just seniors, to buy yearbooks.
"Everyone should get a book, you and your friends are probably in it," Corwin said.
Members of WOWW came out to advocate the Gardasil vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer, while the Society of Black Engineers braved the cold weather to attract new members.
"We've had six sign-ups," said Secretary Carissa Hie. "It's pretty cold. Even so, it's good exposure."
President Christian Apollon, a senior, agreed.
"Just being out here and participating is good," he said.
Students from URI's Mechanical Engineering Department featured the ATV they built and plan to race in an upcoming competition in Florida.
"We're trying to sell some T-shirts [to] help us out with our trip," said junior Matthew Ayres.
Zeta Beta Tau brothers ventured out to raise money for the upcoming multiple sclerosis walk.
Sophomore Rick Harrison, ZBT's philanthropy chairman, estimated the group has collected almost $500 in the last couple of days.
"We've had some support from students on campus," Harrison said.
Local radio station WBRU 95.5 offered students a shot at being on the air. Those interested were handed a microphone and asked to try out an introduction.
"We're going to pick one winner and they'll be on the Donni Kahn afternoon show," said Michelle Hanson of WBRU.
After auditioning, students spun a wheel for a chance to win prizes like CDs and movie passes.
Outside the Union Ballroom, students crowded around a table to get henna tattoos.
Dailey, who decided on a rose tattoo, said, "I'm bored in between classes, it's something to do."
Patient patrons waited in a line that seemed to inch along in order to get personalized street signs. The line started at the ballroom doors and snaked past the Campus Access Office.
Sophomore Victor Lopes planned to have his name printed on his sign.
"I might not," he said after discussing the slow moving line with another student.
