After the syllabus shock that came with the first week of classes, students convened in East Bell Commons on Aug. 29 for five hours of carnival-themed fun, followed by a performance from indie pop-rock band Beach Weather. For some, the University Program Board’s (UPB) Back to School Bash was a chance to spend time with friends after a summer of being apart. For others, it was a chance to get free food. No matter the priority, most students found something they enjoyed among the stations spread across the field.

Beyond the activities, stamp cards handed out when checking in gave trying as many things as possible the spirit of competition. “They just had a little card and they did little stamps for each one and some activities….I really liked how they set it up,” said second-year Beatrice Jarvis. Collecting your card began the race to get as many points as possible at the booths and games. Collect 100 points or more, and you could enter a raffle for a variety of prizes. This was the goal for second-year student Veronica Kuo, who had her sights set on one main prize. “I mostly went [to the event] for the air fryer, which I wasn’t able to get, but that’s okay. It’s the experience,” said Kuo. Raffle prize-winners were announced to the crowd mere minutes before the long-awaited performance, and screams of victory arose from the winners in the waiting sea of people.

Yet, it was the spread of food that seemed to be the true prize—not just because an entree and a dessert earned 20 points each. Tents and food trucks lined one side of the field, with a diverse set of food choices such as burritos, ramen, shaved ice and Indian and Thai cuisine. Students sat in clusters on the open grass enjoying their meals, singing along to the music from the DJ. While some of the remixes were questionable at best—like “Closer” by The Chainsmokers mixed with “Macarena,” which did succeed at getting students to dance—spirits were high.

The four main rides, each valued at ten points, were placed on the other side of the field.
“I really liked the obstacle course, so I raced a couple of friends,” said Asher Cronin, a third-year student. The obstacle course in question was the perfect source of childhood nostalgia as players tried to weave through the inflatable barriers as fast as possible.

Then, there was the sumo-wrestling ring, where challengers were provided with duplicitously heavy inflatable sumo wrestling suits, after which they would attempt to pin down their opponent. Control was a myth and the suit controlled you, especially if your arms were not big enough to stick out of the puffy sleeves. To the left of the sumo wrestlers was a human version of the childhood game “Hungry Hungry Hippos,” and across the field sat a mechanical bull. “I loved sitting on the bull, which I sat for like 14 seconds. But, we don’t talk about that,” said second-year Aatisha Pradhan. Many contenders stepped forward to face the bull, but it was unclear how many succeeded.

The photo booth was just as popular, and a line formed from groups of people practicing poses as they waited their turn. “Me and my roommate are trying to get some pictures for our little pinboard in our room,” said first-year Riya Ray. Further up the line, students picked up plastic gold chains, shiny hats, giant playing cards and a variety of different paper props on sticks.

The photo booth was not the only place to spend time with people. The Back to School Bash provided the perfect opportunity for people to get together, whether it was to reconvene with old friends or form bonds with new ones. Finally finishing UPB bootcamp, second-year Kavana Lokesh was excited to be part of the events themselves. “I’m enjoying meeting all the freshmen and meeting new people,” said Lokesh from her station at one of the food tents. Whether these friends were new or old, it was clear that many of these activities were much more fun with others. “We had a bunch of fun games that we could do with our group, which was awesome. I definitely enjoyed the tie dye the most. I made a bandana and a scrunchie,” said second-year Alicia Mathew. Mathew’s group held up their creations proudly, from the tie-dye to their caricatures to pennants they designed themselves.

While activities were still wrapping up, anticipation was in the air as the crowd grew around the stage where the DJ was playing. The stage lights focused and the concert began. Beach Weather turned the air electric, elevating their studio performance by driving the bass straight into the listeners’ chests. The weight of the rhythm carried the energy of the crowd up, creating an infectious sort of energy—intensified by the lights flashing different colors—that had everyone dancing in the audience. Phone flashlights in the once-dark crowd went in the air during “Trouble With This Bed” swaying to the rhythm for some time. This was immediately followed by an impromptu interlude, where meme sounds were played to the audience to test the mini synthesizer once it was reconnected with the system. “A few moments later,” chirped the synthesizer, followed by laughter from the audience and from the band.

The night ended on “Sex, Drugs, Etc.” originally from their 2016 album “Chit Chat” before it was made TikTok famous—a lively part of the set with plenty of accompaniment from the audience. This lively energy carried through the night as students departed, a fitting end to the evening filled with fun, friends and plenty of food.