This week's Wildcat Wednesday instilled Penn College Pride, then used that spirit to promote Thursday's campus visit by the Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers.
Halloween arrived early at Penn College, where assorted members of the Wildcat "Boo!" crew satisfied sweet-tooth dreams and opened the door to their darker counterparts. Ushering in the shadowy midnight hour were Student Engagement's Fall Fest on Oct. 21 (moved indoors due to foul weather) and Wildcat Costume Party on Oct. 28, the American Welding Society student chapter's ghastly (and annually anticipated) Arc Asylum, and Residence Life's beloved Trick or Treat Night at The Village on Oct. 29.
Penn College observed "Purple Thursday" this week, honoring October's designation as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The campus community was encouraged by the Office of Student Engagement to advocate for survivors by wearing purple clothing and/or ribbons and by sharing messages of hope through a vigil at "The Rock." A table inside the Bush Campus Center provided resources, including information on recognizing and reporting domestic violence.
Students eased into Fall Break with a relaxing Wildcat Wednesday at "The Rock" this past week, spray-painting ceramic pumpkins as a timely takeaway. The popular series, an unpredictable variety of activities hosted by the Student Engagement Office, will resume Oct. 18.
The Office of Student Engagement observed National Coming Out Day on Wednesday, a day of empowerment and visibility for individuals from all walks of life to proudly share their authentic selves with the world. Stations in the Bush Campus Center lobby let the campus community learn more LGBTQIA+ history; write notes to those who need encouragement, kindness or love; and to win prizes, play games and take photos.
A coalition of faith-based organizations, led by United Campus Ministry, recently collaborated on a "Rise Up" event that collected $118 on behalf of Penn College's food pantry. "We're all here for the same reason," said UCM President Samir K. Pringle, a business administration student from Philadelphia. "I'm a believer in finding opportunities to serve. If you can do something, you should do something."
Week in, week out, throughout each semester, the Office of Student Engagement aims to please its campus audience with delightful diversion from lab time and homework. Look no further to this past weekend, which ran the gamut from miniature golf to the biggest turkey leg you've ever gnawed upon.
The "Alive! Mental Health Fair," hosted by the Office of Student Engagement on Tuesday, welcomed participants into an open conversation about mental illness and warning signs of suicide. For several hours in the Bush Campus Center, students took part in revealing exercises – separating myth from fact, for instance, and giving anonymous voice to fears and concerns – designed to foster a campus atmosphere of hope and help.
Student teams gave it their all during Wildcat Wars, a grueling and gladiatorial contest of wills and wiles, that was won in a Friday night squeaker.
Students and employees planted flags, wrote thank-you notes to veterans and first responders, made paper cranes and more during a day of service to remember the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Get Penn College News in your inbox each morning.
Subscribe