Students participate in a life-size basketball shooting game at the Geneseo Late Knight’s Gigantic Challenge Night. The event featured many fun activities for students to let loose and relax before the semester’s start. (Annalee Bannison /assoc. photo editor)
Students and event planners alike were able to de-stress through obstacle courses at Geneseo Late Knight’s Gigantic Challenge Night.
Both GLK members and students who attended the event on Saturday Jan. 20 were thrilled about the activities available. The main features were multiple inflated obstacle courses, which GLK event staff assistant junior Darnisha Buckley described as “like something you see on the TV show ‘Wipeout.’”
Other activities included giant sized versions of regular games, such as giant Jenga, checkers and chess.
Event planners for GLK intended the Gigantic Challenge Night to be a place where students can relax and meet new people.
“We chose this event because a lot of college kids are pushed to be adults and not to have fun, so this is a good setting for them to relive their childhood, hang out and have fun with new and old friends,” Buckley said.
GLK staff member sophomore Shreyya Malik echoed a similar sentiment, saying being on GLK is “getting paid for having fun, making connections and meeting new people.”
“I joined because I enjoyed Geneseo Late Knight events when I was a freshman and wanted to do the same for others. It lets you be part of something bigger,” Malik said.
Malik was also enthusiastic to take part in the activities herself.
“You play big Jenga and other big versions of games—when I first saw the games and obstacle courses I was really excited.”
The majority of attendees were attracted to the event because of the obstacle courses. History adolescent education major freshman Robert Matigzeck enjoyed the event, and even raced his Resident Assistant sophomore Julia Deacon to add some friendly competition to the night. Deacon said that she enjoys attending GLK events with her residents as a way to get to know them better.
Psychology major freshman Nick Schuessler related the event to the Olympics and stated that he hopes to see obstacle courses included in the 2020 games.
“I think obstacle courses are really cool, like the ones they want to put in the Olympics,” Schuessler said.
Obstacle racing is under consideration for being added as an event for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, according to Sports Illustrated. Trial runs of the sport have been successful and, if added, it would be an addition to the modern pentathlon.
Regardless of the status of obstacle courses as a sport, students genuinely enjoyed the opportunity to wind down by racing each other and playing giant sized versions of games they enjoyed when they were kids. GLK succeeded once again in providing fun activities for students to do on a Saturday night, kicking off the semester right.