Students level up at CAB’s video game-themed Fall Fest

Students at Eastern Connecticut State University spent the week dancing at “Club Penguin,” greeting bunnies at the “Stardew Valley” petting zoo, and enjoying video game-themed activities during Fall Fest, hosted by the Campus Activity Board (CAB) from Sept. 22–28 under the theme “Leveling Up with CAB.”

“I just felt everyone has played some sort of video game in their life,” said MJ Jackson, a graduate intern at CAB. “The week was meant to encompass all the different styles that people like in video games, such as console games, computer-based games, phone-based games, or retro arcade games.”

The week encapsulated the variety of games Jackson described. For phone-based game lovers, “Minecraft Monday” consisted of creative crafts and CAB prizes, followed by “Diner Dash Tuesday" at Hurley Hall.

Console gamers had their turn mid-week. Wednesday’s “Eastern Valley,” inspired by “Stardew Valley,” brought a petting zoo, stuff-a-plush activities, and DIY flower bouquets. Not only were students getting creative, but they were also able to play “Just Dance” and other console games on the CAB game truck on Thursday.

On Friday, the campus turned into the famous world of “Club Penguin” with a dance floor, igloo, and more. Students showed off their own moves, bringing the popular multiplayer game to life.

Over the weekend, students stepped away from the screen and participated in rigorous teamwork challenges. On Saturday, a trip to Level 99 arcade consisted of completing various puzzles and obstacle courses, but the challenge did not end there. Meanwhile, “Super Willi Kart,” a “Mario Kart”-themed obstacle course, had students racing throughout campus.

The key players behind this year's Fall Fest were the four student workers who spent their summer planning it. Amanda Wrobel, a student worker for CAB, provided insight into the process.

“The summer is when we plan everything for this week," she said. "I thought it would be cool to have a ‘Minecraft’ event and then I realized we could expand on that. ... We then ran the idea by our supervisors and figured out what we needed for the events. This included researching our typical popular events and then finding the vendors that can fulfill our requests. We are always collaborating with each other, just throwing ideas back and forth, seeing what would work best.”