Walking by the Quads on Saturday evening, students were bound to be drawn into the overflowing energy centered between the joint clusters. With food trucks in one corner, karaoke and games in another, and mini stations set up throughout, every attendee was able to find some form of enjoyment. This occasion is part of the annual event, Quad Day, in which various West Quad South and West Quad North dorms set up activities for the whole school to partake in. As students reminisced about the excitement that has arisen since this day, they looked forward to the changes and hosting of next year’s Quad Day.
From student accessibility to logistical improvements, this year’s event saw a few changes. Magdalena Mercado ’26 stated that this year’s Quad Day was particularly enjoyable as more students could attend due to the time change and the more permitting weather, as opposed to last year’s rain. She also thought that the organization of activities was carried out smoothly.
“This is the first time I have ever been to a Quad Day that has been hosted in the evening, which is just a more convenient time for most people. It wasn’t raining and it was pretty warm, so there were a lot of people there. Last year, the setup of things was clumped on one side, but this year, they did a good job organizing the various activities, some in front of dorms or scattered by the Quads and in the clusters. It was fun for everyone, regardless of whether a student just attended Quad Day, or helped to organize it,” said Mercado.
For new students, Quad Day offered a perfect opportunity for meeting new people and socializing with recently made friends. Influenced by returning students who spoke positively of past Quad Days, Eric Myung ’28 expressed his anticipation for the event, adding that though he was not on campus, he decided to come back solely for the event.
“I decided to go to Quad Day because I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet some new people and have fun with my friends. I do live in the [Quads], so it’s also very accessible for me. Though I was supposed to be out of campus for the weekend, I came back because I really wanted to see the event,” said Myung.
The advertising for the event was done particularly well, which contributed to a good turnout and a general sense of excitement on campus on the days prior. Along with the positive reviews from past attendees, there was a lot of student involvement in facilitating the actual event, as boarders in various West Quad South and West Quad North dorms managed stations on a rotating basis. Patrick Xu ’27 stated that the extensive advertising helped build an energetic atmosphere, which in turn added to the fun.
“The advertisement for the event was done really well, the music was nice and uplifting, there were lots of people, and everyone was well-spirited. Nine square being positioned in the center drew in a lot of attention… and if [people] got bored of playing nine square, they could disperse into the other activities and events hosted,” said Xu.
Among the various activities featured, some were student-run stations and others were larger setups that were brought in. Students could walk around, have their faces painted and their fortunes told, get fried dough from a food truck, play games in the grass, and more. Aria Erickson ’25 talked about her favorite activities, which were popular with other students as well.
“My favorite activity was the fortune teller or nine square, and they were even more fun having it at night. It added to the chaotic fun. I had a really good time and [it] was a great way to spend time with my friends,” said Erickson.
This year’s Quad Day was a great social gathering to mark the transition out of the first couple weeks at school and into a regular routine. With well-done advertising, Quad Day pulled students from all corners of campus together to bond over an assortment of food, games, and student-run stations.
“[The] attempts of trying to invite new people to bonding activities were nice. Everybody had a good time and a chance to do all the different things offered. People both from the Quads and not from them were just happy to be there… Everybody should attend Quad Day,” said Mercado.
