UU debuts carnival-style games, student performers at 1st Quad-A-Palooza
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By 3:30 p.m. Friday, a line started to form behind the mechanical bull on Syracuse University’s Shaw Quadrangle. One by one, students walked up to the bull for their turn, while the operator was sitting to the side with a smirk. Almost everyone, including Otto the Orange, fell off instantly, besides one person who lasted a single rotation — maybe.
“I saw them setting up the bouncy house and all the attractions this morning, plus the weather really is working out,” SU sophomore Gaven Getter said.
The mechanical bull was just one of the many activities available to students at University Union’s inaugural Quad-A-Palooza. From 3 to 7 p.m., the Quad turned into a mini carnival, hosting four live student DJ performances from Body Glitter, DJ Benny, Envy and Isa, a mechanical bull, inflatable attractions, caricature artists and more. Campus Dining provided loaded mac and cheese, chicken sandwiches, ice cream sundaes and refreshments like water and juice, while Toss ‘n’ Fire set up a pizza truck, all free of charge.
Quad-A-Palooza came after UU announced earlier this month that it would no longer host Juice Jam, its longtime fall music festival. Instead, Quad-A-Palooza brought plenty of fun across the Quad for students to enjoy during its programming.
Getter first noticed the event when he saw workers setting up inflatables earlier in the day. After checking SU’s event listing to see what was happening, he returned to the Quad when the event began.
Even after picking up a six-pack of assorted Coca-Cola cans from one of two booths, Getter and his friend still had more to check out.
“So far I can’t complain,” Getter said. “I’m excited to see what else there is that I can explore.”
Chloe Northrop and Cassidy Wagner, both SUNY ESF sophomores, spent their afternoon exploring Quad-A-Palooza. Northrop tried some brisket mac and cheese, as well as juice from the refreshments station.
An attendee of University Union’s Quad-A-Palooza rides a mechanical bull on the Shaw Quadrangle. UU’s event also featured a Toss ‘n’ Fire pizza truck, inflatable attractions and student DJs. TARA DELUCA | PHOTO EDITOR
While Wagner checked out some posters, both of their eyes hooked on the mechanical bull. After getting knocked off almost instantly, the pair laughed about the incident.
“Today is super fun,” Northrop said. “I think that was my first time on a bull, and I shouldn’t have expected to last any more.”
The pair also grabbed popcorn and a few Cokes, zoomed down the inflatable slide and listened to the Charli xcx remixes playing across the Quad, Northrop said.
Wagner learned about Quad-A-Palooza on Thursday through a UU Instagram post. After talking about it with friends, she decided to go.
Following the bull fumble, Wagner admitted the event had gone beyond what she expected.
Isabella Ramsey, one of the caricature artists working the event, has been drawing in the style for the past six years, beginning in high school.
Friday was the first time she ever visited SU’s campus.
“I’ve been doing this a bit of a while now,” Ramsey said. “I’m from Rochester and it’s my first time here. The campus is nice but must be a lot of walking.”
SU sophomore Suleivy Soriano spent the next half hour doing the opposite. Soriano, who regularly attends Quad events, spent a half-hour waiting in line for a caricature drawing of her and two friends. It was the first time she’s ever seen herself in that art style, and it was safe to say she was pleased with the result.
“She added a lot of detail that I am so shocked she would even add,” Soriano said. “It’s amazing and actually looks very very nice, even though we look a little off.”
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One of Soriano’s two friends, SU sophomore Uzzekiah Harvey held three stuffed animals he made while posing for the caricature. The animals were the most attractive part of the day, Harvey said.
“It was like a build-a-bear thing,” Harvey said. “It was fun that I was able to build and pick them, and now I get to have them like the ones you buy.”
Students, faculty and staff spent the rest of the afternoon lining up for photo booths, face painting, and, at a station where you could fluff stuffed animals like plush dogs and cows with your friends: classic carnival-style concessions befitting the event’s theme. Some students even decided to humor the handful of RSOs at tables set up across the Quad.
“It’s been a nice day of walking around and good vibes,” Soriano said.
