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Homecoming events made a splash
By Chris Wenstrom
Assistant News Editor
FILE PHOTO
The Sem pond jump was one of the most successful of the Homecoming events, drawing in a record number of students taking the dive.
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Homecoming festivities ran the duration of last week, ranging from basketball halftime events to over 70 students jumping into a hole in the ice over the Seminary pond.
Celebrations commenced Monday with the free Calvin Improv team performance. The Calvin Improv team has been performing during Homecoming week for many years.
Along with free coffee there was an “Open Mic” night on Tuesday at the Cave for the second year straight year.
Wednesday was the men’s basketball game in the Fieldhouse.
Local television stations were present as 73 Calvin students made the plunge into the icy Seminary pond Thursday evening; this was the most students in Calvin history to make the arctic dive. Historically, the first 30 jumpers got a “Cold Knight Club” towel, but this year, due to a donor, everyone who made the jump got a towel.
Professor Randy Buursma initiated this frigid tradition in 1999 in order to get students more interested in Homecoming events.
Buursma has the entire group of jumpers take a pledge: “We promise to leap into the Sem Pond, surrendering ourselves to the icy waters, and embracing our falleness as creatures. And when the waters cover our entire body and our feet are mired in muck, we will given the grace to emerge from the depths as life long members of the Cold Knight Club having attained our reward, we will serve our fellow humanity knowing that we have gone where few dare to tread. All for one, one for all.”
Freshman Katie Hickok, one of the jumpers, said, “I am going to jump all four years so I can get four towels. It was a lot of fun.”
The participants jumped into a small hole in the ice, a spot that was only a few feet deep. All of them had to completely submerge their bodies in order to receive a towel.
Later in the evening was the judging of the dorm decorating contest. There were two $200 prizes.
Boer-Bennink won the most creative award with their “Beauty and the Beast” theme.
As the judges approached Boer-Bennink, the doors swung open while students filled the lobby singing the theme song, “Be our guests.” Kalsbeek-Huizenga took home the best performance award with their rhyming rendition of “Jack and the Beanstalk.”
On Friday, the seniors officially celebrated their last 100 days till graduation.
The Alumni Association helped the seniors rejoice with $5 coupons at Johnny’s Cafण and five one- hundred-dollar bills to the lucky seniors whose names were drawn.
Creative Dining chipped in, giving away a DVD player and other smaller prizes.
Calvin’s game against Albion took place on Saturday. During halftime of the Varsity game, eight students were brought down out of the stands by Student Alumni Association members to participate in a contest. Each student was given 35 seconds to attempt lay-ups, free throws and three-pointers.
Best Buy gift certificates were given to the eight, while everyone who partook won at least $10, third place $20, second place $25 and first place $30.
Saturday also consisted of events geared more for the older crowd. Dr. Steven Wiersma, a Calvin alumnus who currently works for the Florida Department of Health, discussed his experiences as a physician in his specialty of public health.
These activities were organized by the Student Alumni Association, working collaboratively with the Alumni Association.
Barb Hoogeboom, advisor for the Student Alumni Association, said these groups work closely together, the Student Alumni focusing on student interests and the Alumni Association working more with former Calvin students.
It is commonly misunderstood who qualifies as an alumnus-- anyone who has completed two semesters at Calvin is an alumnus.
These alumni organizations coordinate activities throughout the year for sophomores and juniors as well.
The Student Alumni Association has a great deal of influence on the Alumni Association, even as much as to having a voting seat on the Alumni Association Board.
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