The Online Reflector

The Residence Hall Association recently held Rez Fest for on-campus and commuter students. This event, which took place from April 15 to April 20, had many activities for students to participate in on campus.

According to Melissa Horan, resident assistant for Cravens Hall and director of programming for RHA, Rez Fest began two years ago.

The event invites students on campus to participate in fun activities and work in teams with people who live in the same residence halls. There is also a team for commuters students. Each team has a specific color bandana that all teammates wear.

Horan felt that the best aspect of Rez Fest was students meeting new people.

“I think that builds community and gets [students] to know people from other residence halls,” Horan said.

This year’s medieval-themed Rez Fest began with an opening ceremony at Campus Apartments. Students were able to eat s’mores and attend a bonfire at the opening ceremonies.

Some of the other events scheduled throughout the week included the creation of a large banner for each residence hall, a Finish the Lyrics game, a Tuesdays with Ted medieval-themed dinner in the dining hall, Bocce Ball (a medieval game) and a closing ceremony featuring inflatables.

“I’m a pretty competitive person. And the RAs from the other dorms were here,and we’re competitive against each other,” said Sabrina Smiley, a junior chemistry education major and RA for Cravens Hall.

Along with the events held each night, RHA set up a scavenger hunts at 4 p.m., called “Rescue the Damsel” and “Golden Hounds.”  For “Rescue the Damsel,” students would show up to receive their clue and the first person to find the damsel won points for their dorm.  “Golden Hounds” were also spread out across campus in multiple hiding places.

“A lot of halls, especially the freshmen halls, got really excited about [“Golden Hounds” and “Rescue the Damsel”] and would form search parties to go out in the middle of the night to find them,” said Lauren Cain, a freshman psychology  major and RHA secretary.

Students were asked to wear bandanas to each event, so that they could receive points for their team.

Cain said attendance at these activities depended on the event.

“A lot of people from New and East showed up to Bocce Ball, whereas at Finish the Lyrics, there were people from Warren and Cory Bretz,” she said.
“No matter what the event was, Cravens came out in large numbers.”

The winning prize for the winning hall include $500 and an in-hall breakfast held by Polk Food Services.

“It’s a nice wrap-up to the year,” said Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli. “It’s a fun chance to get together with their friends, to participate in fun activities.”