California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) brought current students, prospective families and community members together for their 25th anniversary. The open campus event ran from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 12, featuring a variety of fun and informational pop-ups between the university’s many facets.
The event was, above all, resourceful. The morning began with open house presentations in the main quad, with guidance on the application process for those considering attending in 2020. Potential students and their families also had the opportunity to tour the housing options and classrooms later in the afternoon.
“A lot of the conversations I heard from people touring the campus were talking about how cool it was,” said first-year Jasmin Texidor.
Each of the university’s five colleges hosted themed events across campus. The College of Science was posted in the Chapman Science building with several labs and demonstrations available to interact with. The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) held its official ribbon cutting for building 504. Along with touring the new space, visitors of the CAHSS building also visited the art gallery exhibiting alumna Roxana Keland.
“By having these activities and having [visitors] engage in what’s going on on campus, I think it gives them a better understanding of what CSUMB is all about,” said Assistant Education and Leadership Professor Dennis Kombe.
Kombe, as well as several other education and leadership department faculty members, led creative workshops in the library’s makerspace.
Student groups were given the opportunity to advertise themselves at the main quad’s resource fair. Similar to fairs held earlier in the fall semester, student unions, clubs and greek life groups made an appearance for both current and potential students alike.
“We had a lot of participants come up and say that when they come here, they want to join [our club],” said science club member and third-year Sarah Zion.
Around noon, several food trucks parked on Divarty Street. The World Theater played videos of past performances for most of the afternoon, as well as founding faculty member Luis Valdez’s film “La Bamba” in the evening. Live music, such as CSUMB’s jazz ensemble Sharp Nine, performed in front of the theater. Monte’s held a casual reception with trivia and refreshments in the evening.
The night closed with a women’s volleyball game against Chico in the Otter Sports Center and the second-annual Werk Witch drag show in the University Center Ballroom. Over the course of 12 hours, CSUMB staff and students succeeded in demonstrating what makes the university unique.