Campus wide bonfire heats up student activity

On Saturday Nov. 5, the first campus-wide bonfire lit Muhlenberg College.

The free event, which was sponsored by the Student Activities Office, started at 8 p.m. Students entered the lawn talking and sitting on hay bales, around a huge pile of wood, while they waited for the fire to heat up the event. The 8x8 bonfire was set to spark at 9 p.m. outside of the East Library Lawn and students gathered to listen to music and eat and drink refreshments, while watching the large flames of the fire.

The purpose of the event was to bring the whole campus together for a social event, instead of having one that is just for a specific group of people.

“We wanted to think of something that would be fun that students can get into, and to do something exciting that we have not done before,” said Muhlenberg Student Activities consultant Andrea Barker. Music was provided by DJ Kay Brissy, who played popular songs that are familiar to our generation. The DJ also brought strobe lights to make the dark night colorful and bright, which was helpful so the audience could see before the bonfire was lit. The lawn had enough space for students to dance to the music as well. There were various food options available for the attendees of the event, including food that revolved around the theme of a bonfire. Food that was served included: s’mores in a cup, soft pretzel nuggets, and different types of cookies including chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, sugar cookies with a pumpkin engraving, and cookies with rainbow sprinkles. Along with the snacks, beverages were provided, which included apple cider and hot chocolate. Students aged 21 years or older were allowed to receive alcoholic beverages free of charge, which were served behind an orange gate. They needed to prove their legal age using their Muhlenberg ID to be granted access, and each student was limited to three drinks. If food and alcohol were not enough of an influence for students to attend, the signal from the smoke had more students piling in. The huge fire made the campus feel warmer than usual and filled the lawn with orange and yellow hues. Students ate and relaxed with their friends while watching the fire burn down the wood. A fire truck and crew were on hand at the event, in case of any incidents as a result of the bonfire. The fire was well controlled and it was a great experience for any student who chose to participate in Muhlenberg’s first bonfire. The event was definitely a success and fitting for our campus. If you have any ideas for further social events, the Student Activities Office encourages you to share them. “We are always willing to hear feedback [on our events] and if students have ideas they want to put on we want to hear about it,” said Barker.