To say it’s been hot in Columbia this week would be an understatement. Luckily, the Missouri Students Association provided a way to beat the heat Saturday at its first ever Mizzou H2O event.
MSA Special Events Committee, the Department of Student Activities, the Residence Halls Association and the Mizzou Readership Program worked together to plan an event filled with water, fun and sun. Clear skies, 85-degree temperatures and plenty of sunshine made for perfect weather for the event, which was held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday on Carnahan Quad.
MSA Special Events Committee member Liz Ambrose said though MU has organized water events before, an occasion of this scale is unprecedented.
“We actually haven’t done anything like this before,” she said. “It was an idea that popped into someone’s head and with the work of the whole DSA board we’ve made it happen.”
Most event goers said they heard about Mizzou H2O from Facebook, flyers around campus or by word of mouth. The Facebook event, created by stufftodo.missouri.edu, accumulated more than 300 attendees and served as a source of publicity that drew more attention to the event.
A large crowd was expected and delivered. Junior Jessica Beine said “free stuff and a water gun” drew students to the unique event.
Giveaways included sunglasses, beach balls and snacks. The event boasted a variety of games, a 27-foot water slide and a giant water gun called an aqua blaster. Students played a variety of free games such as water balloon dodge ball, a water gun fight and a contest involving fire hoses called bucket wars. Prizes such as $20 gift cards were awarded to winners.
Ambrose said the event wouldn’t have been possible without Amberg Entertainment and KC Water Wars, which supplied the equipment. The Columbia Fire Department also donated two fire trucks for the occasion.
Junior Jessica Cardona said she was glad to have an opportunity to cool off and have fun.
“I think it was a good thing to do on a hot day,” she said.
Ambrose said the event aimed to draw students to campus and celebrate MU’s tradition of bringing students together.
“Really it is the DSA’s mission is to provide the students fun activities to come to on campus,” she said. “We’re hoping the students take away having a good and relaxing day out in the sun and bringing out some Mizzou spirit and knowing that Mizzou always tries to provide new and fun activities every year for them.”
