On Wednesday, May 3, 2006, students, staff, and faculty had the opportunity to take part in an SBU tradition: the Strawberry Fest.’
In its 13th year running, the Strawberry Fest featured a total of eleven stations, each with a different type of strawberry dish.’ The eleven strawberry-based snacks that were available were, in no particular order of like or dislike, the strawberry shortcake, strawberry caesar salad, strawberry frutopia, strawberry candy, strawberry yogurt, strawberry vitamin water, nachos & strawberry salsa, Edy’s frozen strawberry bar, strawberry health shake, ice cream crepe, and straw ‘Berries-to-Go.’
According to Lisa Hospital, the primary organizer for the Strawberry Fest, each different dining hall on campus divided the responsibility of manning the strawberry stations.’ Hospital, in her 5th year organizing the event, described the planning that is required each year.’ Hospital noted, ‘We had to start organizing about a month ago.’ Any items required for the strawberry stations were ordered two weeks in advance.’
Tickets for the event were $7.75 at full price.’ However, students were able to get a 50 cent discount by either purchasing tickets in advance or by wearing red SBU hats to the event.’ Hospital did emphasize the fact that the proceeds from the event were going strictly to cover the costs of purchasing and distributing the food.’ Hospital commented, ‘The event is meant as a service to students.’
Hospital actually provided several recommendations for dishes she found quite appetizing.’ She mentioned the newly added ice cream crepe and strawberry caesar salad.’ Several other students were accosted during the event as far as their opinions of the dishes at the event.’ Two freshmen, Tiffany Kataria and Brett Kugelmas both agreed on the superior quality of the ice cream crepe.’ Upon reflecting upon her first Strawberry Fest experience, Kataria mentioned that she also liked the strawberry shortcake. ‘ However, both Kataria and Kugelmas did not have many positive words for the strawberry caesar salad.’ Kataria said, ‘It had an interesting taste.” Kugelmas was more blunt in his review, saying,’ ‘The salad was just not good.’
On another note, the success of the Strawberry Fest, according to Hospital, has been used to aid a relatively newer event at SBU, Diversity Day, an event spearheaded by the Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action.’ Diversity Day was held at the same time on Wednesday as the Strawberry Fest, during the extended campus lifetime hours of 11am-3pm.’ Dean of Students Jerrold Stein affirmed the benefit of having the two events run simultaneously, ‘These two events do act synergistically.’ It’s a great campus community builder, really a win/win situation’
Stein did emphasize the continued effort on the part of administration to make SBU a campus where students can spend their time the entire week, not just during the weekdays.’ Various events highlighted by Stein emphasize this effort.’ Events in the beginning of the year, ‘Homecoming, the Involvement Fair, the Fraternity and Sorority Fair, have a similar theme of improving campus community life.” Recently, students had the opportunity, according to Stein, ‘to participate in Earthstock 2006, SB Idol, and Roth Regatta.” ‘ The springtime’ at SBU is also characterized by academic events, like’ the recent URECA Celebration.
Considering Stein’s comments, it is likely that, along with the Strawberry Fest and other events that have been going on these past several weeks, SBU students are likely to see more improvements in the near future.
