By Dessa Bayrock (Contributor) – Email
Date Posted: September 20, 2011
Print Edition: September 14, 2011
Dis-Orientation is one of the traditional UFV back-to-school series of events. Its basic purpose is to serve as a chance for students to let loose, generally in the form of a concert – for instance, in the past, SUS has brought in relatively big names like Finger Eleven, The Trews, and Bif Naked.
This year, both format and name of Dis-O changed slightly, but the goal of the event remained the same; under the name SUSpocalypse, it still gave students a chance to kick back and relax after the first week back on campus, and started planting the seeds of school spirit.
Much like in the Dis-Os past, the concepts of free music, free food, and general UFV pride provided the foundation for SUSpocalypse. SUS organized vats of chili and a killer sound system in order to keep the event out on the campus green, which let things stay laid-back and close to home. Students came and went according to how much time they had to spare, sometimes only meandering by on the way to their next class or listening with half an ear while they studied for tests.
The benefit of having a more laid-back approach was that students didn’t have to commit to sitting down and staying for the whole thing if they didn’t want to – and let’s face it, at this point schedules everywhere are starting to look a little full, so something that takes up precisely as much or as little time as a student can spare should come as a relief at this point. Luckily, the weather cooperated and temperatures hit almost thirty degrees, making spots in the shade highly sought after but also helping the overall relaxed, summer feel.
Things kicked off a little after four with a performance by UFV’s own Giddha Club. A half dozen colourfully dressed dancers in saris drew a crowd of students right away with their bright smiles and fast-paced moves. They set a high bar for all following acts with their infectious energy and obvious love of the dance.
They were followed by live music from local band Harma White, and Calgary hip-hop artist Transit with DJ Crosswalk. Still in keeping with the laid-back theme, people chatted, mingled, and enjoyed the sounds pouring over the green. Harma White had a gravelly, rock-y feel to their sound, while Transit and DJ Crosswalk dropped some beats and rhymes. In between songs, Transit commiserated with the crowd about student loans and trying to follow one’s heart into a profession that one loves – something we all can relate to.
In conclusion, SUSpocalypse had a more laid-back feel to it than previous Dis-Os, but it worked – the beautiful weather, hot chili, hard work of the SUS and volunteers from the rowing team brought together an event that inspired an air of relaxation and contentment. There was enjoyment and socialization, and despite the implied violence of the new title, SUSpocalypse succeeded in encouraging an inherent feeling of school spirit and student pride.
“I’ve made two new friends!” said Jacob Hilbourn, a first-year student who studied a chemistry text while lounging in the shade as Transit performed. “It is a pretty cool event,” agreed Reace Buchner, another first year, “but you know what would have made this infinitely better? A slip-n-slide.”
