The Third Annual Stony Brook Fountain Festival, which was held in celebrationof SBU’s ‘Year of Community Leadership’, was held out doors between12 and 3 PM in a venue extending from the fountain to the Old Chemistry Building,Wednesday, May 1.
Several student organizations came together to plan the Fourth Annual DiversityDay, which was a part of the Fountain Fest.
The Office of Diversity played an active role in bringing the various clubstogether for the diversity program portion of the Fest. According to Graduateoffice assistant, Ismenia Molina, the Office began planning for the events ofDiversity Day back in March, when they began contacting the all of the presidentsof the different organizations on campus.
‘Our goal was to get everyone together to work together and interact,’Molina said.
Hundreds of students attended the event as did between 20 to 30 clubs and organizations.
The participating groups set up tables with information about their organizations,and activities for passers by to participate in such events as painting andhair wrapping. Various creative performances also took place throughout theafternoon. The gospel choir and several dance troupes performed on the largestage set up in the fountain area.
Free T-shirts and towels with the Diversity Day logo on them were given awayto attendees.
‘Today was an opportunity for us [African Student Union] to let peopleknow we’re here on campus and that we welcome everyone,’ said sophomoreChristiana Obi, current secretary and future president of ASU.
Representatives from a number of groups including Students Toward an AccessibleCampus, the Lesbian Gay Transsexual Alliance and Student Organization CreatingIndigenous Awareness said they too saw Diversity Day as an opportunity for theirorganizations to make students aware of their existence and goals as well asa chance to interact with other groups on campus.
In addition to student clubs and organizations, local service organizationswere also in attendance to provide students with information about differentleadership opportunities available to them.
SBU Police had a table set up which provided students with information on securityand safety as well as on how one can become a part of the University Policeforce.
‘We always try to set up a booth and get information out that you [students]should really know about safety,’ officer Frank Rastelli said.
A Wellness and Activities Fair which held sports demonstrations and had a boothwhere students could receive a free blood pressure screening was also part ofthe Fountain Fest events, as was the Strawberry Festival.
Treats ranging from cookies to cheesecake to gummy bears were available tostudents who chose to partake in the Strawberry Fest. All of these foods wereof course strawberry flavored.
Students were able to purchase tickets for the Strawberry Festival either onthe spot or ahead of time at the Kelly Dining Hall. Musical accompaniment toall of the days events was provided by Buddy Merriam and Backroads Blue GrassBand, the Stony Brook Big Band Jazz Ensemble and WBLI Radio.
‘I had fun, all of the activities were great and the food was delicious,’freshman Ami Patel said.