UB students climbed a rock wall as others painted club montages on the windows of the Student Union, initiating the beginning of the celebration of club and school pride during this year's Spirit Week.
The events will continue throughout the week, providing students with a chance to ride a mechanical bull, stretch their stomachs in a wing-eating contest, and smash up a car with a sledgehammer in front of the SU, among other activities. Free entertainment and food will also be provided, along with the events planned by the Student Association leading up to the UB Bulls Homecoming game this Saturday.
According to SA President Peter Grollitsch, Spirit Week was designed to build up to Homecoming Weekend. The week is full of events for SA clubs. Whichever club accumulates the most participation points will be declared the winning club at the end of the week.
According to Grollitsch, the top three clubs will be announced during halftime at the Homecoming game on Saturday. There will be three prizes as well as a first place trophy for the Spirit Week Club.
"We are taking notes on who is participating...at the end of the week we tally all the points," he said.
Grollitsch explained that the week's activities including two-lane bungee, bouncy boxing and the carsmash, aren't only geared toward club members - students not involved in clubs can also participate.
"It's a good way to get regular students involved as well as different clubs who are competing all week," he said.
Students participating in Tuesday's events enjoyed the day's activities despite the fact that the carsmash was rescheduled for Wednesday due to rain. Students enjoyed indoor activities such as jousting in a gladiator match, wrestling in sumo costumes and competing on a giant inflatable Twister pad.
Daina Foster, a sophomore psychology major, jousted with a friend during Tuesday's festivities. According to Foster, there was no wait to participate in the joust, despite the crowd.
"It was fun, especially going with a friend. He took it easy on me," she said. "I look forward to participating in giant Twister and sumo wrestling."
Ian McLees, a senior communication major, took part in the sumo wrestling yesterday, which involved sporting a brown bodysuit and a helmet with a head of hair attached. Then participants were asked to stand on opposite sides of the mat before attempting to knock the other person off.
"It was a lot of fun. I'm glad I got to do it with a close friend," he said.
Caitlan Mulholland, SA activities director, said that for this year she tried to get more events in each day compared to last year's Spirit Week.
"Tomorrow we have four events going on," she said. "We tried to get more ways for the clubs to compete."
Clubs that wanted to participate in this year's Spirit Week competition had to sign up last week at the SA office, Mulholland explained.
"So when they show up (to an event), one person from each club comes to compete and whoever wins gets a point for their team. Whoever accumulates the most points for their team throughout the day wins 50 points for that team," Mulholland said.
Mulholland explained that this Saturday's Halftime Parade, which will feature golf carts that will be decorated by different SA clubs, is a new addition to Spirit Week and Homecoming Weekend.
She said one of the goals of Spirit Week is to get as many club members to participate in the daily events as possible, as well as individual students.
The UB Bulls Homecoming Game against Ohio will take place on Saturday, bringing Spirit Week to a close.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
