On Nov. 7, staff, faculty and students gathered on Burton Lawn for the inaugural Smith Community Field Day. Despite the early November chill, the event drew an impressive crowd from all corners of campus.
“This is a day for community,” said Javier Puente, Associate Professor in Latin American Studies, welcoming the attendees. “We’re here to have fun, compete and most importantly, connect.”
As a member of the Faculty Council, Puente has had a vision for an active, game-packed event for some time. Additionally, Staff Council co-chairs Cathy Kearney and Caroline Bertrand were brainstorming ways to connect the Smith community. Together with the Student Government Association, the councils turned Field Day into a reality.
From administrative and precollege staff to students and professors, the diverse crowd formed eight spirited teams. While onlookers layered up to watch from the sidelines, teams sported their own separate outfits. Among them: an all-purple Reslife ensemble, a green-clad Landscape Studies Lab and the Wurzarus team – a mix of Wurtle and Lazarus – all adorned with walrus headbands and a barking walrus chant.
“We would have been happy if even only four teams showed up,” Kearney said, looking at the bustling lawn. “It’s a great turnout.”
Each team rotated through 1v1 faceoffs across the different games, from trivia and tune-guessing to corn toss and egg races.
“We’ve been practicing for the egg race,” said Kelly DeForest, Associate Director of The Curricular & Academic Administration. Representing the Provost’s office, Deforest’s team donned “Roain’ Regalia” for their team spirit.
No real eggs were harmed in the race: contestants balanced a colorful easter egg on a spoon while making laps around cones. Each successful lap passed the egg to the next teammate until each member had gone. Dropping the egg, however, meant restarting.
Among the egg race champions were the Mendenhall Bells, students and faculty from the Theater Department.
“We’re theater kids,” said one of the Bells, “but today we’re athletes.”
The Bells wore all black for their spirit. And Production Manager Nikki Beck brought her dog, Lexi – a sweet, 12-year-old pug who joined the festivities to cheer her team on. Lexi did not partake in the egg race.
While most participants signed up in groups together, others were placed in a randomized assortment.
“It’s great to see the cross constituency of the teams,” said Erin Cohn, Director of the Wurtle Center. Cohn came as a Wurzarus Walrus enthusiast and one of many Field Day spectators.
Lining the field of games were a snack table, raffle table, and a large Field Day poster that anyone could contribute to. Frames with superlatives stood empty, ready to be awarded to the teams at the end of the event. From “best dressed” to “most enthusiastic,” eight frames equaled the amount of teams.
In between matches, participants had the chance to mingle, whether reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting new ones. A particularly new face joined in the fun, too: Senda Bear. The Smith mascot danced through groups of people and rooted for teams as they played.
Field Day drew other new Smithies as well. First year Nikolina Gvozdenovic felt inspired to get involved with the community by volunteering for the event. “I think it’s a nice, very needed thing,” she said as she set up supplies for the poster board.
Heidi Andersen, Finance Partner for the Dean of the College, was similarly drawn to Field Day for its social opportunity. “It’s a great chance to meet new people,” she said, expressing her excitement to get to know the community. Friday marked Anderson’s third week working at Smith.
In a month or so, Burton Lawn will frost over. We’ll move back inside as the days get longer. And maybe Senda Bear will go into hibernation.
But for now it is a day of games and a day for the Smith community.
“No matter how competitive you are,” Gvozdenovic announced to the crowd, “today’s goal is one only: just come here and have fun.”
