Miller Field did not sleep during one of Student Government’s most-anticipated annual events: campout, which took place Friday evening. With various activities and food, plus the bonus of increasing one’s chances for obtaining a basketball ticket, Campout remained successful this year.
Although the main reason why students attended the event was for the chance to win a basketball ticket, that wasn’t the only reason for attendance. Even students who weren’t planning on staying the night came out to the event.
“It’s where my friends are, and it’s a good opportunity to interact with everybody on campus,” said Roman Williams, a fourth-year studying psychology at NC State. “I’ve been playing soccer and ultimate frisbee.”
Students who were helping to manage the event also had a great time along with some good music.
“[I’m] running the snow cone stand,” said Aidan Mangan, a first-year studying statistics and hall council president. “We have a big poster that says ‘We are State’ over there, and people are coming over and putting their signatures on it, and it’s starting to look really nice.”
Emily Lambeth, the president of NC State’s Inter-Residence Council and a third-year student studying biomedical engineering, helps put Campout together every year, a feat that proves worthwhile.
“I love Campout,” Lambeth said. “I think it’s a really awesome way to get students out here without actually making them camp out for tickets. It’s really fun… it’s really engaging. I’ve been doing this for three years now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone sleep. They’re all out having fun which is really cool.”
The only thing students needed to attend the event was a free wristband that they could get in Carmichael Gym. But Campout didn’t have a single event that could solely take credit for the night’s energy, as there were multiple features that played a role in getting students outside.
“I think it’s the variety of things that you can find,” Lambeth said. “There’s options for free food, volleyball [and] some years we’ve had face painting. You never really know what to expect each year which I think is pretty exciting and new because I’m someone who never wants to do the same thing twice.”
The event’s food lineup included snow cones, hot chocolate and popcorn. Some of the activities this year were soccer and frisbee, but the largest event was volleyball. The volleyball game was a free-for-all as one could pick either side to play on and join in right away.
“There’s a volleyball net set up and I just see students all come together, having a good time there,” Mangan said. “I think that’s a great activity that’s been doing a good thing for us.”
Campout kept its energetic and fun-feeling throughout the night as students continued to play in the events and eat free food.
“I think it’s a great idea honestly,” Mangan said. “And I think it’s a great way to pull the community together. It’s really cool to see all these tents that are all next to each other, and there’s a real family type of feeling to it — [it’s] like a family camp trip.”
Seeing all the tents lined up on Miller Field proved an impressive sight for Lambeth to see again.
“It’s such an amazing feeling, seeing that all these people are out and excited,” Lambeth said. “Last year we were inside and so that was really interesting, but it’s really nice that it’s back outside, back where it belongs, honestly, because this is the spirit [of Campout].”
Jenay Brown, a first-year studying engineering, and Dejha Nixon, also a first-year studying engineering, study outside of their tent at Campout on Miller Field on Friday.
