Category | News

KAB keeps KSU Day tradition

Published on April 7, 2009 by Andy Nelson

The Kennesaw Activities Board (KAB) held its annual KSU Day on April 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Students try their luck during KAB’s Casino Nite on April 1. Photo by Christen Engels.

KSU Day is held every spring and offers carnival-style games and activities for students to enjoy in between classes. Unlike previous years, this year’s event was held in the Student Center University Rooms due to inclement weather.

The happenings included a cotton candy stand, jumbo chair photos, personalized street signs and a performance by Nathan Angelo. Games were supplied by Interactive Attractions, Fun Affairs and several registered student organizations.

“Since the years I’ve been here, I’ve continued everything I’ve seen in the past,” said Chris Perry, KAB’s “KSU Hommie.” “There are more novelties and giveaways, but everything is the same from what I’ve witnessed.”

As KSU Hommie, he was responsible for coordinating KSU Day as well as Homecoming last fall.

According to Kathy Alday, director of Student Life, the school has been hosting KSU Day since 1969.

“I think it’s just a continuing tradition of activities for students to let off steam,” said Alday.

Alday also reported that the event has seen a vast transformation throughout the years. In the past, when the school was on the quarter system, all classes were canceled after 10:45 a.m., and it was always held in the third week of May. Activities back then included a tug-of-war, volleyball, mud wrestling, a battle of the bands and a “Casino Nite,” which is the only original activity still held today. Sometime in the late 90s, various companies were hired to bring carnival-style games, and KSU Day has been held in this fashion ever since.

“Nowadays, it’s something you can bring your kids to,” said Alday. “At the time, it was more of a day for students to come out and enjoy some music, and it was more like a Spring Fling.”

This year, after KSU Day, the tradition continued with Casino Nite. Once again, the Student Center University Rooms were transformed, this time with various casino games including craps, poker and blackjack. Students were given the opportunity to exchange their winnings for raffle tickets. The event lasted from 9 p.m. until midnight, with raffle drawings beginning at 11:30.

“It was a great atmosphere and there were plenty of fun people to hang out with,” said Will Cole, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry.

“We definitely had a lot more tables [than in the past], which means we had more students,” said Keon Ghaffar-Jabbari, an active KAB member majoring in Marketing. “The more tables we have, the more people are going to want to play. More tables means more fun.”

Ghaffar-Jabbari also pointed out that every KSU student is considered a KAB member, and all are invited to attend the weekly meetings held every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The last meeting of the semester will take place on April 16.

At the end of this month, Perry will be leaving his position as KSU Hommie in order to work on student teaching, but he will still be involved in the planning of next year’s events.

“I plan on working closely with the KSU Hommie Elect to make sure that Homecoming 2009 and KSU Day 2010 are more successful than what we experienced under my leadership,” said Perry.

For more information on KAB activities and meetings, students can visit ksukab.com.