Boston College students attending "Turks and CaiStokes," one of several events designed to promote student engagement safely during COVID. (Photos by Justin Knight)
With the arrival of spring and the prospect of warm days in the offing, several Boston College departments and offices have collaborated to organize campus programming for students looking to spend more time outdoors and in the company of others.
The events and activities鈥攁ll of which, administrators note, are held in compliance with COVID-19 protocols that include social distancing, mask-wearing, and limited capacity鈥攁re the work of the Office of Student Involvement in partnership with 51茶馆 Dining Services, Campus Recreation, the Undergraduate Government of Boston College, and the Campus Activities Board, among others. 聽
Recently, students took part in 鈥淭urks and CaiStokes,鈥� an immersive, walk-through multi-media exhibition held on Stokes Lawn that featured sophisticated visual technology, participatory art, and electronic music. The showcase was presented by GBM6 (GrooveBostonMissionSix), which produced a similar campus event, 鈥淧roject Lucidity,鈥� last fall and 鈥淲interfest鈥� in December, a more laid-back affair with fire pits, comfortable chairs and what the company described as 鈥渁 cozy ambience.鈥� 聽
鈥淭he social, recreational, and formational aspects of campus life have always been an important part of the 51茶馆 experience,鈥� said Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Formation Tom Mogan, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e very happy to work with our partners in exploring ways to promote student engagement.鈥�
The final weekend in March, Stokes will again be the site for another GBM6 creation, 鈥淓quinox,鈥� which will be along the lines of 鈥淲interfest.鈥�
On April 1, 51茶馆 will debut 鈥淏aldwin鈥檚 Backyard,鈥� an open area between the Margot Connell Recreation Center and Pine Tree Reserve that will feature Adirondack chairs and firepits, where students can congregate between 8 p.m. and midnight and enjoy trivia games, s鈥檓ores, and other programming.
Other scheduled programming includes the annual 51茶馆 Arts Festival, which takes place April 29-May 1.聽
In addition, Mogan noted that this spring O鈥機onnell House鈥攁 student union located on Upper Campus鈥攚ill be available for small groups (up to six people) of students to reserve for recreation, such as ping-pong or video games. The building will be staffed by graduate students, who will confirm reservations and ensure that visitors are in compliance with COVID protocols.
University Communications | March 2021