Students eager to 'Jump N2 Spring'

Students kicked off the new semester Thursday night with the Jump N2 Spring special event at the Morris Recreation Center (MRC).

The event featured free food and drinks, a display of student organizations and games for the estimated 900 students in attendance.

"I attended the event tonight to check out the laser tag," freshman Nassandra Wright said.

The gymnasium held group laser tag and one-on-one jousting, but according to Director of Campus Recreation Jorge Juarez, the games were not the most important part of the event.

"This event is unique because the students really get involved," Juarez said. "The Alpha Pi Alphas partnered with us on putting together this event, and they were allowed to personally invite organizations to have booths set up around the walking track upstairs."

Because of the quantity of organizations that participated in Thursday's event, the booths had to be moved upstairs so that the lower level of the gymnasium could comfortably accommodate all of the attendees.

"Last year, we had the student organizations set up on one side of the gym and the food, games and shirts on the other side," Juarez said. "However, organization participation doubled this year and we amped up the event, increasing our total number of student participation by at least 200 people."

President of CaribSA Ryan Maycock was among the students who promoted their organizations.

"We just wanted to come out and let people know about CaribSA," Maycock said. "CaribSA is the Caribbean Students Organization at Texas A&M University-Commerce, but most students do not know that it is not required for our members to be of Caribbean nationality."

A large majority of the booths were displays of Greek organizations on campus, but there were also a few presentations from independent organizations such as Uniquely Bynded.

"Uniquely Bynded is a team of students who participate in praise dance," Fundraiser and Community Service Coordinator Jelesa Holmes said. "Many people do not know about the existence of our organization, nor do they know what praise dance is, so we are here trying to spread the word."

The Sigma Chi Fraternity contributed to the number of Greek booths at the event.

"We decided to come out and represent not only our organization, but our university as a whole," President Micah Glascock said. "I really hope this will assist us with spring recruitment as well."

According to Juarez, a lot of planning and organizing went into this year's event in the hope that it would generate better results than last year's.

"As a director, my philosophy on campus recreation is simply that I want students to enjoy every event," Juarez said. "I only have my job because of the students at this university, so I want to give back to them what they give to me. In order to plan and carry out these special events for them, I have to have the help of my staff."

Sophomore Haley Mull is an attendant at the front desk in the MRC and has worked several special events, including Jump N2 Spring.

"I love when we have special events," Mull said. "All of the interaction with my fellow students really makes my job fun."

According to Juarez and his staff, planning takes place every year in an effort to produce better student-oriented events.

"When students see an event such as this one take place, they become motivated," Juarez said. "They want to wear their organization's letters and show their pride on campus. In the 18 months I have been in Commerce, I have seen a lot of separation and competition amongst the organizations, but tonight I see the mixing."