Andrews University Student Association’s (AUSA) annual Barn Party brought laughter, music and fall vibes to Andrews on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 5:30 pm. In the arboretum behind the Howard Performing Arts Center (HPAC), the warm string lights and miniature bonfire set the scene for a fall evening of games, food and fun.
One major draw of the Barn Party was all the free fall snacks and food. A table stocked with hot chocolate and apple cider helped boost spirits and warm cold fingers. As the temperature dropped with the sun, more people took advantage of the fire pit by roasting marshmallows for their s’mores as they chatted and laughed over the music. Harmony Santos, a freshman studying pre-nursing, appreciated the complimentary food and free event, “I really appreciated that it was free; I wasn’t expecting that, and it was really nice.”
The event also featured many fall activities. According to Karan Chun, the AUSA vice president of public affairs, this year’s Barn Party was the first in several years where they offered a hayride. Many students enjoyed joking around and catching up with friends while the tractor drove around Campus Circle Drive. AUSA also rented a photobooth with accessories for people to take pictures with friends, a popular stop in the party, especially as people were leaving. Other booths offered activities such as caricature drawing by the senior class officers, ring toss with the junior class officers, and the freshman class officers offering face painting and an ongoing game of Stop the Clock to win capybara plushies.
The AUSA officers dedicated a lot of time into preparing for this event. Though none of them had ever attended the barn party in previous years, they were ready to take on the challenge of planning this school-wide open event and make it their own. Chun, a junior music major, said she was most excited for the new fair/festival style and the hayride. Choosing a site on campus for accessibility for all students, they originally planned to host the event at the agriculture farm, but for safety reasons, they moved the site to the lawn behind HPAC, according to Chun.
Planning such a big event can be nerve-wracking, but as the event started and people showed up, Chun joyfully expressed, “It’s everything I imagined!” She felt it was a huge win for the first event she’s planned this semester. Alana Hofmann, a sophomore in information systems and graphic design, commented that the event was “really cute and cozy!”
Students, such as Catherine Adap, appreciated the chance to pause from the busy everyday life of school and socialize with people on a more personal level. Adap, a freshman majoring in secondary education, said, “I think it’s great to run into people we don’t normally cross paths with in class.”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.