Stay Day is scheduled for Oct. 6. This is the first out of two days during the school year where students are most encouraged to remain on campus for lunch. The tradition started during the 2000-2001 school year, and every year student participation grows larger. It is a carnival-like event that occurs during both lunches. It is hosted by Student Congress’s Student Enrichment Committee. The purpose of Stay Day stems from the desire to reduce the carbon footprint created everyday by students who go off-campus for lunch. This year, Student Congress has hired local vendors such as Taco Delite, Chickfil-a, and Chipotle to cater for the event.
“We tried to snag the restaurants that students would normally be going to, as a way to encourage them to stay here. It’s more convenient that way,” junior chairman Bert McJunkin said. “That way there is really no reason to leave. It makes it more successful.”
Any club on campus has the opportunity to sponsor a booth. They can choose any item to sell and they are also allowed to set the price. This is a large opportunity to fundraise for the less well-known clubs.
“This year the Planoettes are going to be selling cake balls,” junior Business Officer Lexi Betz said. “They’ll all be home-made and will be sold by the drill team girls who volunteer for each lunch. We’re planning on having three different flavors. They’ll be all wrapped up in individual bags. Each bag will have three cake balls. It’s a deal, they’re delicious.”
The language clubs will also be present at Stay Day this year. French club is organizing a booth to sell crepes, and the Spanish club will be selling churros.
“Churros are the perfect desert, especially when they’re fresh. It’s fried bread filled with a sweet icing inside,” junior officer Varqua Azimi said. “We can sell them for cheap too. They were really popular last year, so we decided to do it again.”
Each committee within Student Congress will also be selling their own items.
“I’m on the Community Service Committee, and we’re going to do smoothies for Stay Day,” junior chairman Catherine Edmonson said. “They’ll be small but refreshing. We’re hoping to get a good profit.”
The Student relations Committee is not participating due to increased preparations for Homecoming.. The Public relations Committee will be selling snow cones.
Advertisement for Stay Day can be seen all around campus on various bulletin boards and hanging from the balconies along the stairs.
“The days leading up to Stay Day are the most important because they try to get the word out to everyone,” McJunkin said. “It will be exciting and it’s for a good cause. Bring your friends and your money too.”
