FIRST P DAY SINCE THE PANDEMIC DRAWS LARGE STUDENT TURNOUT

Brigitte Hernandez | Staff Writer | lhernandez3@mail.smcvt.edu

After two years of the pandemic limiting in-person activities, the Student Government Association (SGA), Residence Life, and Student Activities hosted the 64th annual Preparation Day, also known as P-Day. The event occurred on April 30 in the 300s field. 

Planned activities were the highlight of the day for many. The event was filled with live music from PaperCage, a Massachusetts-based alternative rock band, and activities that included axe throwing, mini golf, cornhole, henna tattoos, bull riding, a Volkswagen photo booth and food from nine local food trucks. 

Unlike many College-sponsored events in the past or most weekends, Residence Life opened party registration all day.

Bennington Erickson ’24 and Grace Palmer ‘24 never experienced a P-Day due to the pandemic. They expressed their enthusiasm on their first-ever P-Day. 

“P-Day is great, man. There is live music, bull riding, and axe throwing. Woo-hoo!” Erickson said. “I can not wait to get a Philly cheesesteak.” 

Palmer said that P-Day exceeded her expectations.

“It is way better than I expected. I did not think it would be this fun, but it’s that fun,” Palmer said.

“The first P-Day occurred in 1956, making this year the 64th P-day since the last two did not occur,” said SGA Programming Secretary Sierah Miles ‘22

Miles and Witkowski said planning the event was a long process. It took around 10 people to make this possible. 

“Most notably, we are thankful for the countless hours inputted by Kerri Leach, Emily Chabot, Dawn Ellinwood, Jeff Vincent, and Lou Dimasi over the past 4 months to help us plan P-Day,” Witkowski said.

Stan Valles, director of Public Safety, said the number one rule for this event was to have fun but be safe. 

“The students who behave responsibly, understand moderation, look out for one another, respect each other’s boundaries, and don’t put their health at risk will be the ones that have a great time,” Valles said. 

From tie dye t-shirts with matching headbands to banana suits, students were decked out in anything unconventional they could find in their closet. P-Day is filled with unordinary traditions, which makes it that much more fun for students like Gigi Kelsey ‘24 who wore matching shirts with her teammates on the ski team.

“I am on the alpine ski team. I have a t-shirt that is based on some of our seniors. We have Austin Lilley on the front of my t-shirt doing a “shoe-wy” which is a beer in a shoe. Which makes no sense to me but you know. Christian Gallagher in the corner. Ben Throm in the back. Magnolia Neu is one of the quotes on the back as well. It’s pretty nice,” Kelsey said. 

P-Day was also filled with laughter from competitive mechanical bull riders, traditions, and fun.  

“I rode the bull. We played some corn hole. It was awesome!” said Grace Saunders ‘24.   

For the class of 2022, this was their second and final P-Day as undergraduate students. Kayla Erb ‘22 said she was glad that weather conditions were sunny, compared to her first P-Day. 

“Our first P-Day was cloudy and rainy. This P-Day was good,” Erb said. “Something I did miss out [on] was the bouncy houses. Those were really fun,” she said.,

Maggie King ‘22 agreed. 

“The weather has definitely been nicer, and I think after not having it for so long, I think it’s awesome,” King says. 

After two years of the pandemic limiting in-person activities, the Student Government Association (SGA), Residence Life, and Student Activities hosted the 64th annual Preparation Day, also known as P-Day. The event occurred on April 30 in the 300s field. 

Planned activities were the highlight of the day for many. The event was filled with live music from PaperCage, a Massachusetts-based alternative rock band, and activities that included axe throwing, mini golf, cornhole, henna tattoos, bull riding, a Volkswagen photo booth and food from nine local food trucks. 

Unlike many College-sponsored events in the past or most weekends, Residence Life opened party registration all day.

Bennington Erickson ’24 and Grace Palmer ‘24 never experienced a P-Day due to the pandemic. They expressed their enthusiasm on their first-ever P-Day. 

“P-Day is great, man. There is live music, bull riding, and axe throwing. Woo-hoo!” Erickson said. “I can not wait to get a Philly cheesesteak.” 

Palmer said that P-Day exceeded her expectations.

“It is way better than I expected. I did not think it would be this fun, but it’s that fun,” Palmer said.

“The first P-Day occurred in 1956, making this year the 64th P-day since the last two did not occur,” said SGA Programming Secretary Sierah Miles ‘22

Miles and Witkowski said planning the event was a long process. It took around 10 people to make this possible. 

“Most notably, we are thankful for the countless hours inputted by Kerri Leach, Emily Chabot, Dawn Ellinwood, Jeff Vincent, and Lou Dimasi over the past 4 months to help us plan P-Day,” Witkowski said.

Stan Valles, director of Public Safety, said the number one rule for this event was to have fun but be safe. 

“The students who behave responsibly, understand moderation, look out for one another, respect each other’s boundaries, and don’t put their health at risk will be the ones that have a great time,” Valles said. 

From tie dye t-shirts with matching headbands to banana suits, students were decked out in anything unconventional they could find in their closet. P-Day is filled with unordinary traditions, which makes it that much more fun for students like Gigi Kelsey ‘24 who wore matching shirts with her teammates on the ski team.

“I am on the alpine ski team. I have a t-shirt that is based on some of our seniors. We have Austin Lilley on the front of my t-shirt doing a “shoe-wy” which is a beer in a shoe. Which makes no sense to me but you know. Christian Gallagher in the corner. Ben Throm in the back. Magnolia Neu is one of the quotes on the back as well. It’s pretty nice,” Kelsey said. 

P-Day was also filled with laughter from competitive mechanical bull riders, traditions, and fun.  

“I rode the bull. We played some corn hole. It was awesome!” said Grace Saunders ‘24.   

For the class of 2022, this was their second and final P-Day as undergraduate students. Kayla Erb ‘22 said she was glad that weather conditions were sunny, compared to her first P-Day. 

“Our first P-Day was cloudy and rainy. This P-Day was good,” Erb said. “Something I did miss out [on] was the bouncy houses. Those were really fun,” she said.,

Maggie King ‘22 agreed. 

“The weather has definitely been nicer, and I think after not having it for so long, I think it’s awesome,” King says.