IM体育官网

Students will have to venture no farther than the Oak Grove and the IM体育官网 Polytechnic University soccer field to find fun and exciting events this Labor Day weekend.

, which began at the start of the fall semester, culminate Sept. 4-6 with events designed to bring students together and promote fun, friendship, and fitness. All activities will take place with appropriate social distancing and other safety requirements in place.

鈥淲e will have all kinds of activities,鈥� said Tonya Chestnut, IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 director of student development. 鈥淪tudents will be able to have a great time and find lots of fun things to do while staying here on campus.鈥�

Activities will include an outdoor escape room, laser tag, do-it-yourself stress relief, and a showing of the movie 鈥淜nives Out鈥� at the Oak Grove. Attendance is limited for some events to ensure proper physical distancing, so may be required.

鈥淓verybody has been very welcoming at these events 鈥� that鈥檚 just the IM体育官网 Poly culture,鈥� said Madeleine Sirok, a junior majoring in computer science from Naples, IM体育官网, and a member of the Campus Activities Board (CAB). 鈥淓ven with the mask on, I try to look as friendly as possible because this is a new experience for the freshmen and I definitely have to set an example of who we are as a community.鈥�

David Schindler, a sophomore engineering mathematics major and a member of CAB, said the Purple Fire Weekends events have felt very safe and welcoming.

鈥淚鈥檓 happy to see everyone out and having a good and safe time,鈥� said Schindler, from Philadelphia, Pa. 鈥淓veryone is being extra mindful and extra respectful of everyone鈥檚 space 鈥� I鈥檓 happy to see everyone taking this seriously while having still getting together and having fun.鈥�

This emphasis on preventing the spread of COVID-19 while encouraging a vibrant University life was by design, Chestnut said.

鈥淭he whole point is to keep our community together and make students feel like they don鈥檛 need to return home or go out into Lakeland for activities,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 safer for us to all stay together.鈥�

Purple Fire Labor Day weekend events

Friday, Sept. 4

• Escape with Us (two escape rooms), 6-10 p.m. at the Oak Grove
• Rocket League (virtual esports event), 6-10 p.m. online

Saturday, Sept. 5

• Shaun鈥檚 Mile Run, 10-11 a.m. at the Student Development Center
• Phoenix Fit Workout (bootcamp-style circuits), 3-5 p.m., at the soccer field
• Laser Tag, 7-9 p.m., at the soccer field
• 鈥淜nives Out鈥� movie on the lawn, 8-10 p.m., at the Oak Grove tent 1

Sunday, Sept. 6

• Sexual Misconduct 鈥� Title IX Training, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Innovation, Science, and Technology Building room 1002/1003
• Get the Scoop and Color (gourmet ice cream and coloring), 2-4 p.m. at the Oak Grove tent 2
• Stress Relief DIY (make stress balls, origami, coloring, sidewalk art), 2-4 p.m. at the Oak Grove tent 2 and the soccer field

Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557