Posted: 09/05/07

The Margin
SMC is FUN

Tom Kingston l columnist
tkingston@smcvt.edu

St. Michael's College receives high ratings from the Princeton Review and is affiliated with the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Society. In spite of the college’s high standing in the academic community, its best kept secret is that it is a fun place.

Even before classes begin, specially selected upperclassmen come several days ahead of time to teach all of the incoming students how to have fun in case they don’t already know.

Then, on the third day of classes, the Peace and Justice Center kicked off it’s series of open mike’s at Eddie’s on the second floor of Alliot Hall. The stage was dominated with first-years from Ryan Hall, including hilarious anecdotes from stand-up comedian Cody Rock. The evening closed with veteran St. Mike’s coffee house performers Kelsey, Zach and Billy Jandl and the extraordinarily talented Seth Gallant.

Turtle Underground, the North Campus venue, kicked off its season with a barbecue outside of Purtill Hall on Friday afternoon. The band Boxcar Charlie played to a hungry crowd. On that same afternoon barbecues were held at several locations across campus. There was a dodgeball game at Cashman Hall, whiffle ball at Senior Hall and many more indoor and outdoor games throughout the campus.

Saturday morning started with the annual SMC 5K fun run. Hundreds of student-athletes, staff and faculty members participated. More games and barbecues were held throughout the day. If these offerings weren’t enough, the Society of Saint Edmund chartered a bus and took first-years to Saint Anne’s Shrine for a cook-out there. A hike up Camel’s Hump with dinner at Taylor Lodge was organized by the Wilderness Program. After dark, “drive-in” movies were in the 300’s field.

The activities were too numerous to mention. It will be like this all year. Event organizers work hard to let people know what’s going on so be sure to read your e-mails and look at the posters on the walls of your dorms. If you ever hear anybody say, “there’s nothing to do around here,” give that person a furtive glance and say, “Shuddup.”