The annual “Pioneer Pause” day just took place this past Tuesday on October 29th. It was a day where students and faculty could take a break and engage with the community. Since its creation in the fall of 2021, this event has grown into much more than its original idea and has changed into a tradition for the school. With this day not only providing an intentional day off from classes for students, staff and faculty, but also hosting multiple activities, Point Park is aiming to support the wellness of its whole body.
This year’s “Pioneer Pause” included a variety of activities, each aimed at providing a relaxing experience. For a complete list of the activities, this is what you could’ve expected:
9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M., Yoga Session: Held in Studio One of the George Rowland White Dance Complex, this yoga session provided a relaxing start to Pioneer Pause. Listed as “open to all skill levels,” this event offered students and staff the ability to relax and stretch before the rest of their day.
9:00 AM-11:30 AM, Grazing Activities: Being held in the lobby of Lawrence Hall, this event held multiple attractions. Students were able to enjoy chair massages, seasonal beverages, coloring, Halloween-sign painting and slime making. This setup allowed students to not only relax but engage with each other.
9:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M., Meditative Hand Stitching Workshop: This event, which was for individuals who RSVPed, allowed participants to practice hand stitching in Lawrence Hall room 409. Guided under the instruction of Dr. Vincenne Revilla and Dr. Christal Edmunds, Professors of the School of Education, this activity let individuals take home a small, personal piece with all the materials and supplies being provided.
9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M., D&D One-Shot Campaign 1: Held in the lower level of the Student Center, also known as the new Professional Career Readiness Center, students were able to partake in their own session of Dungeons and Dragons. Guided by staff members Ken Lawson and Phill Harrity, participants could engage in their own fantasies with members of the same community.
10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M., Dodge Ball: Held on the fourth floor of the Student Center in the gym, anyone in the university was welcome to participate in this competition.
10:00 A.M.-11:30 A.M., Therapy Dogs: Held in the lobby of Lawrence Hall, multiple trained therapy dogs were brought in to interact with students and faculty. Sponsored by the University Counseling Center, individuals were able to relax with these pups and get some “PAWsitive energy.”
11:30 A.M.-2:00 P.M., Festival Booths: Set up in Village Park and the Boulevard Apartments Lobby, guests could get henna, balloon art, tarot readings, a caricature of themselves and even a pumpkin paint of their own. There was also a professional ice sculptor and pumpkin carver, who carved four pumpkins, live. One was carved into the Disney character, Stitch.
11:30 A.M.-2:00 P.M., Fall Festival Lunch: Set up in Village Park, on an RSVP basis, staff and faculty were able to enjoy a walking taco bar, a mac and cheese bar and hot apple cider to either drink or buy. If you did not RSVP, that is okay, you could use your meal plan just as you would for the dining hall.
12:30 P.M.-1:30 P..M, Pie Eating Contest: Also set up in Village Park, four students faced off in a pie eating contest. Each came from a major organization on campus: WPPJ Radio, Campus Activities Board, Student Government Association, and The Globe Newspaper. In the end, ours truly, Cassandra Harris, editor-in-chief, won the competition.
1:30 P.M.-4:30 P.M., D&D One-Shot Campaign 2: If you missed the first opportunity or wanted to play more, then now was the time. Once again hosted by the same staff members, this event was open to new and experienced players of Dungeons & Dragons. This activity was held in the same location as the first event: the lower level of the Student Center, also known as the Professional Career Readiness Center.
2:00 P.M/-4:30 P.M., Bingo: Hosted in Lawrence Hall 200, also known as the Fishbowl, guests were invited to stop by and play some rounds of Bingo. They also had the opportunity to win a prize. Guests were only allowed to win one prize, and some of the prizes ranged from an Owala water bottle to a murder-mystery game.
7:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M., Sexual Health Trick or Treat: Held in Lawrence Hall 300, also known as the Ballroom, students ended the day with a themed event focused on sexual health awareness. The “trick-or-treat” setup allowed them to collect informational resources and enjoy snacks and beverages. The night then ended with a costume contest, bringing the Pioneer Pause to an end.
Through these events, Pioneer Pause has been able to develop into a tradition valued by students and staff at this university. With this year’s wide variety of activities, including yoga, therapy dogs, D&D campaigns and a pie-eating contest, students were able to relax and engage in the community.
