The Office of Student Activities will host its 11th annual Block Painting Party on Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Student organizations will spend the day painting murals on the sidewalks in the Alvin Sherman Library Quad.
Head coordinator for the event Anthony Bufi, junior athletic training major, said the annual block painting party increases organizational and school spirit on campus.
“It shows off the organization’s creative aspect by showing what design they can come up with every year,” he said. “It’s a day where all organizations have the opportunity come to the library quad and paint a block to represent their organization.”
Bufi said the event allows organizations to be recognized by the rest of the student body.
“New organizations are added every semester, and this is a perfect opportunity for recruitment,” he said. “Most students walk over the blocks every day, so if they see something they are interested in, they are able to reach out to that organization.”
This tradition originated in 2004 when there was a pathway leading from the Goodwin Residence Hall to the Founders, Farquhar and Vettel residence halls. Once The Commons residence hall was built, the event moved to the library quad.
In the past, the block painting party usually kicked off during Homecoming Week and Unity Week.
“This year, the block painting party was moved to February, after the Celebration of Excellence, because many blocks were ruined in the process of building the tent,” said Bufi. “Students spend the entire day painting the blocks because they care about their organization, and they show the dedication it takes to be a part it.”
Chanice Allen, senior biology major and member of NSU’s Christian organization Ablaze, attends the block painting party each year and said it’s one of those few times a year where each organization on campus comes together to show what they are about.
“The interactions that happen each year at this event are priceless — friendships are made as one organization looks to another to help finish off that last piece of their design that they couldn’t quite get,” she said.
Allen said each year Ablaze centers their block theme on “Who is God?”
“When students walk past our block, we want them to see that being a Christian student at NSU is something to be proud of — to get a glimpse of the love in our community,” she said.
Sixty organizations are registered for the event, which will include food, refreshments and music. Organizations can no longer register. If a student isn’t in an organization, but would like to be a part of the block painting party, contact Bufi at ab1974@nova.edu.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of nsunews.nova.edu
