Sam Norton
Student Life Editor
Morsels of leftover snow begin to melt, tips of grass blades begin to poke through the coat of snow, and temperatures start to increase at a steady rate.
This sudden change in climate washes away any notion that it is still winter.
[singlepic id=795 w=320 h=240 float=right]
However, this climate change has created the perfect paradox for last weekend’s events: Winter Weekend and Winterfest.
Winterfest, which is sponsored by the Alumni Center, was created as a way for the entire campus to connect.
Sara Telfer, assistant director of alumni and parent relations, said this is the second year that Winterfest has taken place since the Alumni Center “identified it as a need and as a want,” Telfer said.
This year, Telfer wanted to make sure that Winterfest provided alumni and the student body with the chance to interact with one another.
Winterfest became an opportunity for everyone to experience the spirit that surrounds the Keene State College campus together.
In order to do this, Telfer enlisted the help of Scot Ward, clinical assistant professor and alumnus, to help with the planning of this year’s Winterfest’s events.
For Ward, it was important to include an event that related to being active and being outside, he said. Warren Miller’s recently released film “Like There’s No Tomorrow,” was the perfect fit. Ward, who has attended events put on by the Warren Miller Company at the Colonial Theatre in the past, said that incorporating this film into the list of Winterfest’s scheduled events would be a way to integrate every aspect of the winter season into the weekend.
“It’s a fun movie, and it is certainly related to winter sports, and I thought it would be a nice fit,” Ward said.
“Like There’s No Tomorrow,” which was shown throughout the weekend, allowed viewers to see top winter athletes take on steep snow peaks in locations that ranged from India to NH.
Showing this film gave audience members the chance to experience an aspect of winter they have yet to encounter.
“It’s something related to being active, being outside, but here’s a chance to see that type of skiing, boarding, and riding at the highest level,” Ward said. However, because snow was not in this weekend’s forecast, most of the events the Alumni Center had planned for Winterfest had to be cancelled.
This year, Rail Jam, Night of Lights, and the Snow Sculpture Contest were cancelled due to the lack of snow.
However, not all of Winterfest’s events were cancelled.
Funds from the Alumni Association, Liberty Mutual, and deals from Granite Gorge, allowed students and alums to partake in snow tubing at Granite Gorge on Friday and also purchase discounted ski tickets for Sunday at Mount Sunapee.
But this weekend’s weather did not damper the Social Activities Council’s (S.A.C.) plans for Winter Weekend. Winter Weekend, which kicked off on Thursday night, offered a variety of events for the student body to attend.
Julia Lessard, president of S.A.C. said, “There’s a musical night for people who want to go listen to music, there’s a dance party, and you can enjoy a comedy show.”
“There are a lot of people on this campus that appreciate late night programming. There are a lot of people on campus who don’t enjoy the typical college student Thursday night activities that wish they had somewhere else to go, instead of feeling like the only thing to do is leave campus and go to these parties and the bars,” Lessard said.
Winter Weekend proved to be just that- a way to escape the typical Thursday party night activities.
On Thursday night, the Night Owl Café hosted the Red Carpet Dance that allowed attendees to feel like they were in the limelight.
At the Red Carpet Dance, 11 x 17 posters were created that featured students’ pictures inserted into their favorite movie’s poster, Lessard said.
Lessard said that when planning this year’s annual Winter Weekend, it was important for all of the events to encompass the Hollywood theme.
“We are hoping to get people coming in dressed up, getting interviewed by the paparazzi, the whole experience,” she said.
Friday night gave students the opportunity to experience another side of a “Hollywood” performance. Winter Jam gave four local bands the opportunity to showcase their talent and take the stage in the Night Owl Café.
The performances of The Mild Revolution, The Wendigos, The Calerpittars, and Brooks Hubbard provided audience members with a style of music that was unique to their own talents.
“It is really just to showcase that Keene is just as talented as some of the agencies that we reach out to book and want the opportunity to get showcased. That’s why we do that. We have done that in the past and it went extremely well,” Lessard said.
Morgan Little, lead vocalist and guitarist of The Mild Revolution, said, “I have played with a lot of musicians in my life and Keene musicians are the most creative and talented I’ve ever come across.”
“Winter Weekend is an exciting time because the events are centered around the student body. We aren’t bringing in bigger acts from out of town. We are showing them the talent they have in their own backyard,” Little said.
When deciding on the set list for their performance in Winter Jam, Little said he wanted to include songs that the fans would want to hear.
“I can’t explain the feeling I get when they freak out to one of Matt’s saxophone parts or when they are all singing along to a song we wrote. It’s really incredible,” Little said.
In addition to Friday night’s musical performance, an improv comedy show was planned for Saturday night.
This gave KSC’s improv group, 3 Ways ‘Til Sunday, the chance to open for Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company.
This 70-minute live improv show allowed members of each group to interact with audience members and to make a parody about our community, Lessard said.
Morgan Flagg, president of 3 Ways ‘Til Sunday, said, “We’re just really excited that we got to perform ahead for Upright Citizens Brigade because Upright Citizens Brigade is one of the premiere improv groups and schools in the country. It’s a huge honor that we got to work with one of the members and they let us perform and open for them. All of us consider this a once in a lifetime chance and we are really excited about it.”
This group, which practices every Monday and Wednesday night, makes sure to always develop a connection with its audience.
Billy White, vice president of 3 Ways ‘Til Sunday, said “It’s always a good thing to connect with the audience because if you connect with the audience on a general level you can access their lives and what’s funny about everyday life. I think that what I am trying to get out of it is that I want to make people happy and make people laugh.”
This weekend’s events provided students with an alternative way to be involved on campus in an interactive way.
Through the events of Winterfest and Winter Weekend, students were able to build connections with one another through live performances and outdoor activities.
These connections helped students and alums to develop a community within the KSC campus.
Telfer said, “It is important to keep those connections alive and vibrant.”
Sam Norton can be contacted at snorton1@ksc.mailcruiser.com