Lollanobooza

Lollanobooza took place on October 29th and was organized by SET, Stockton’s Entertainment Team. This carnival themed event’s goal was to deter drinking on Halloween, which can be one of the worst days for alcohol usage in college. SET planned on getting students informed about the dangers of alcohol while still enjoying a night of prizes, costumes and games.

Lollanobooza took place in the Campus Center Event room and was packed with hundreds of costumed students. In order to receive tickets that would enter them for a chance to win one of the many prizes, students had to play a variety of carnival games. Some of the games included spinning a wheel for tickets, throwing a ball to knock over boxes and using a Nerf gun to shoot off items. Pizza, a photo booth and a mechanical bull were also available for students to enjoy.

All of the tickets that had accumulated over the course of a half hour were then drawn for winners. Everyone looked eagerly at the screens in the room that displayed the names of the winners. They were then ushered to a table filled with prizes that they would choose from, such as a variety of gift cards and other prizes. The night eventually drew to a close and everyone, even those who did not win, was sad to see the night end. Lollanobooza was a fun and interactive way to get students involved and to also demonstrate the dangers of alcohol.

The Sherlock Holmes play took place on a cool, rainy Friday evening that added to the mysterious mood of the play. People of all ages filed into Stockton’s Performing Arts Center and took their seats among the rows. The quiet chatter amongst viewers stopped as the lights slowly dimmed and someone stood in the shadows playing the violin; the play was about to begin.

The first hint that this play would stray from the traditional Sherlock Holmes stories was that the infamous detective was played by a woman. Still sporting the usual garb of the character, she walked into the light and quietly talked with her partner, Dr. Watson. The first mystery was similar to its original manner of delivery, full of suspense and mystery, though this play wove in humor through its characters and use of props.

The second and the third mysteries captivated the audience like the first act and made them wonder how Sherlock Holmes would catch the villain. Though Sherlock Holmes was wrong in the second mystery and let the notorious Irene Adler get away in the next act, Holmes clearly demonstrated her experience as a detective and expressed her skill in deduction.

After the last act’s mention of Sherlock’s nemesis, Moriarty, the crowd was left to wonder about the cliffhanger. The five actors came onto the stage and took their bows as the viewers cheered and applauded their performance. The audience collected their items and went back into the rainstorm, their minds full of mystery and the infamous Sherlock Holmes.

Three days before Welcome Week marked the beginning of S.O.A.R., or Stockton Outdoor Adventure Retreat. Two hundred Stockton students packed all of their stuff into their cars, moved into their dorms, and said goodbye to their parents. They grabbed their bags and drove off on buses to Camp Ockanickon. The camp was located in the woods and was spacious and pretty. The lake reflected the entire sky, and the paths wound their way through the tall trees. The setting was very calming and simple, a reprieve from the bright and distracting world that we are accustomed to.

The three days passed like minutes and were packed with activities. One of the most popular activities was the high ropes course. People strapped into their full-body harness and donned helmets while climbing up walk walls and rope bridges. The most popular activity was the leap of faith where participants had to climb up a narrow pole, stand on top, and jump off, attempting to hit a ball high up in the air.

The days were filled with sunshine and activities like swimming in the lake, canoeing, and archery, while the nights were filled with comfort food and games. We could admire clear night skies and stars that were not clouded by the pollution we were used to at home. S.O.A.R. was so memorable because it removed comfort zones, allowed memories to be made and friendships to bloom.