Piñata scraps filled the floor of the loft on the second floor of the Student Center during “Get Mad!” on Tuesday, March 18. Put on by Student Engagement, the event lasted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as part of De-Stress Fest lasting throughout this week.
The event intended to get students mad so they could “rage out” and let go of any troubles they may have. To do so, about 10 students danced, did kickboxing, blew colorful whistles, vented to one another and destroyed a piñata.
At the end of the event, attendees took turns sharing their current burdens or topics on their mind that made them mad. Sophomore music business major Lily Zimmerman came to the event because her roommate helped host it. Though Zimmerman would describe herself as a “passive person,” when she gets angry, it can put a stop to her day.
“I don’t like confrontation,” Zimmerman said. “I don’t like to say my opinions, my thoughts right out there, so it was really nice to hear people’s own perspectives of how they handle their own anger.”
For Cecelia Voth, a sophomore music major, writing is an outlet for her to curb her anger. Writing allows Voth to have uninterrupted time to write for herself and get her feelings out. Before destroying the piñata, attendees wrote down their frustrations on a piece of paper to add inside the decorated horse.
“I think the piñata was really fun,” Voth said. “I think it was physically nice to get that energy out, even though I wouldn’t say I was mad through the event, it was nice to be able to talk about and to commiserate with other people’s frustration. And being able to literally write down my frustrations and then tear them up was very therapeutic.”
Quonyel Shelton, an involvement ambassador and event coordinator for Student Engagement and Leadership said that she thought the event turned out great.
We actually ended up ending early, but it’s because we were having so much fun,” Shelton said. “It just started going so fast. So it was definitely a blast. Everybody got the resources that they needed and also felt great when they left.”
Makenzie Endlich, sophomore computer animation major, and an involvement ambassador as well as event coordinator, said they kept the schedule loose. Though they had prescheduled activities, they wanted everyone in attendance to get their feelings out.
“We just wanted to feel how everyone was feeling and just basically stick to the principles of what this program is supposed to be, which is a fun and safe environment for everyone to get their stresses and frustrations and ideas out,” Endlich said.
While most events put on for De-Stress Fest are calming, Endlich said they wanted to do something different for “Get Mad!”
I feel like anger is kind of a stigmatized thing, where a lot of people either have negative thoughts or misconceptions about it, when in reality it can be a really, you know, getting your anger out can be a really healthy way to de-stress,” Endlich said.
Copy edited by Trinity Balboa
