Stevens hosts first annual Color Run

By Ally Doyle

There was an abundance of smiles, color, and cramps last Sunday, ushering in the first annual Color Run for the Stevens community. Organized by RHA, Office of Residence Life, and Campus Recreation, the originally freshman only event was a huge success, with over forty volunteers from various student organizations. Jorge Rivera, who came up with the idea of the color run, was so excited to see the new tradition come to fruition.

“I wanted this to be more than just a music party, something more interactive,” he explained, talking about why he chose a color run. “It’s an event that promotes physical wellness while still being inclusive and allowing students to walk it too.”

The event was held on Stevens campus. The registration booth was outside Humphrey’s hall, the starting line on the paved pathway from Palmer to the Howe, and the 3k track spanning over campus. Many volunteers littered the path, ready to shower unsuspecting runners with clouds of colored cornstarch.

The first hundred students to show up were given free sunglasses. Volunteers along the trail had cups filled with colored powder, ranging from purple, green, pink, yellow, red, and orange.

The 3k composed of a trail leading up from Palmer to the Howe building and then down by Hayden. Runners then would turn right as they passed Walker gym, taking the path between the Schaefer field and building, then turn right again, traveling up between the library and Palmer. While this path may not seem formidable, it was only the beginning. To complete the 3k distance, participants needed to repeat this path eight times.

After the race, there was a color party in the parking lot behind the Hayden building next to the tennis courts. Groups of students took their turn pelting each other with colored cornstarch sachets, celebrating their triumph over the course.

Ian Marcellana, a resident assistant and enthusiastic participant in the run was quick to praise the race. “The color run was a lot better than people expected.” He attributed the success of the event partially to the fact that it was “a well-run event”.

The event was run through the volunteering efforts of many groups and individuals on campus. The Department of campus recreation, Office of Student Life, and Campus Police were large and extremely supportive groups throughout the whole process. The event expanded quickly from originally being a small, freshman inclusive event to a large campus-wide event with 450 pounds total of colored cornstarch used. And there’s a bright future ahead for future color runs.

While Jorge Rivera is graduating, he still hopes the event will expand. “I want there to be a huge celebration at the end next year, with food and drinks at the end.” The event this year was a huge success in bringing out students on campus, and he hopes that it will be “pretty much the same next year” but this time with “more things at the end.”