When student organizations come together, community building events can be a great way to make connections and engage with others. In this case, it brought s’mores and pumpkins to the students of Colorado State University.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the Associated Students of CSU and the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center worked together to host the Pumpkin Palooza celebration on the Lory Student Center West Lawn.
Beginning as a small idea, Melanie Brousseau, chief justice of the ASCSU Supreme Court, found inspiration for the event in students around campus, as well as in CSU’s campus itself.
“I saw the LSC with fire pits on and everyone was gathered around, and I was like, ‘That would be a great idea,’” Brousseau said.
After bringing it up within ASCSU and reaching out to APACC, the event was born.
The Pumpkin Palooza started off with students getting to know each other and socializing around the fire pit. Some chose to start toasting their marshmallows while little pumpkins awaited painting.
The event was also advertised through APACC, drawing several students from the center to the gathering.
“I just kinda wanted to get more involved in APACC after last year,” said Maggie Ngo, a nutrition and food science student. “I feel like I was too sucked up in school and everything, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to get out more.’”
Being in the evening, the event served as a way for students to decompress after what could have been a long day of classes. Music played as people spoke to peers they may have never met otherwise.
“Everyone is encouraged and welcome to come make a pumpkin or roast a s’more and just kinda enjoy the space and being in college together.” –Melanie Brousseau, ASCSU chief justice
Not only did this event bring in students trying to get more involved, but it also acted as a way for leadership in both APACC and ASCSU to interact in a less formal setting, Brousseau said.
“We have senators from each cultural center who sit in our senate sessions and have a vote, as well as they’re very intertwined within committees or within branches,” Brousseau said. “So I kind of felt like we do a lot of formal stuff together but not a lot of informal (events) together to collaborate or meet each other.”
Another important factor in this event, Brousseau said, was making sure it would be welcoming and accessible for anyone who wanted to attend.
Using inspiration from the accessibility and sensory guide from when Brousseau was a Ram Welcome leader, inclusivity and accessibility were made significant priorities.
“I actually talked to our Accessibility Caucus within the Senate and had them review my guidelines and sensory guidelines before I sent it out,” Brousseau said. “It’s just a matter of understanding that I want to be as accessible to everyone, but I just don’t know, and being conscious of that and reaching out to people that do and having them double check and including them in the conversation.”
This bonding event is something that can likely be seen again moving forward. ASCSU looks forward to hosting more events with the Cultural Resource Centers, said Cameron McKerlie, ASCSU associate justice.
“I don’t think this happens a lot, and this is one of the first events we’ve had with another group,” McKerlie said. “But I think the goal is to kinda open ourselves up to other areas.”
The environment remained welcoming from beginning to end, which Brousseau named as a priority.
“Everyone is encouraged and welcome to come make a pumpkin or roast a s’more and just kinda enjoy the space and being in college together,” Brousseau said. “I think that being in the role I am as chief justice and also being Korean (means) understanding that I’m in a position where I don’t know when someone’s going to be in this role again.”
Reach Janaya Stafford at life@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
