The Geneseo Campus Activities Board and Geneseo Late Knight held their annual Welcome Back Jam on Friday Sept. 1 in the college stadium parking lot. Many students attended and took part in this traditional back-to-Geneseo event.
As the smell of fried dough filled the air, students gathered in lines by the interactive inflatable games. One of the most unique attractions was the mechanical surfboard ride. It was similar in concept to a mechanical bull—students attempted to stay on the board for as long as possible while the bull tried to shake them off.
Another highlight was the Leaps and Bounds obstacle course composed of four giant, inflatable balls. The goal of the game was to jump from one ball to the next, similar to obstacle courses on the reality competition show “Wipeout.”
Perhaps the most memorable attraction of the night was the mobile zip-line. The more adventurous individuals climbed up a set of stairs and took a leap of faith into the night sky. It was not uncommon to see excited students rush back in line for a second or third experience of soaring through the air. While they waited, they munched on fresh kettle corn and free candy given out by GLK.
In addition to the thrilling rides, students were also treated to an electric performance by Ponder the Giraffe, a talented indie-rock band with a diverse sound composed of recent Geneseo graduates. The local band played original songs such as the crowd-pleaser “Toast” and stellar covers of songs like “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World.
Eventually, it was time for the event to end. The inflatables and rides were packed up and students scattered away. At 10 p.m., however, students began to reassemble in the parking lot, eager to catch the semester’s first free movie screening of Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Students braved the cold weather by wrapping themselves in the cozy blankets provided for them.
GLK will be holding more events like the Welcome Back Jam throughout the year. Be sure to keep an eye out for them on your GLK events calendar.
Correction (9/10/17): The band shown in the picture is The Scarecrow Show, not Ponder the Giraffe. We apologize for the mistake.
Geneseo Campus Activities Board held its Annual Welcome Back Jam on Friday Sept. 1. The night featured local Geneseo bands The Scarecrow Show (above) and Ponder the Giraffe and as well as fun attractions and food.