WDOM/BOP Battle of the Bands Brings Down the House

by Jack Downey '23 on May 29, 2023
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


On Saturday, April 15, W.D.O.M. and B.O.P. teamed up to cohost a new event at McPhail’s: a Battle of the Bands. Many other schools in the state have hosted these, so it was exciting to see Providence College generate enough on-campus talent to have one of their own. The bands on the roster were Freshman Year, Wave Goodbye, The Hopeless Romantics, Friday Life, The Grapes, and St. Joe and the Dorms.

Each band brought something special to the table. The amount of dedication and passion  on display was truly heartwarming, as was the crowd’s reception. Many people came out to support their friends, highlighting how important audience members are to the live music experience.

Freshman Year went first. Their set consisted of “Cloud 9” by Beach Bunny, “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus, and “Can’t Stop” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. For this performance, the band was fronted by Christina Schwab ’25, and she did a terrific job. Wes Stephens ’25, the bass player, also got a chance to take lead vocals on “Can’t Stop.” Mason Wasserman ’25 and Ryan Peduto ’25 crushed it on guitar and drums, respectively, with Alonso Moreno ’25 showcasing his bass chops on “Can’t Stop.”

Following Freshman Year was Wave Goodbye. The lineup for this band was Jack Downey ’23 on vocals and guitar, Reid Keiper ’24 on guitar, Veronica Butler ’25 on bass, and Sean Smith ’24 on drums. They quickly blasted through three jangly originals written by Downey, which was exciting since they had never been played with a full band before.

The Hopeless Romantics went on third. Easily one of the quickest rising groups on campus, the quartet consists of Declan Henry ’24 on vocals and guitar, Reid Kieper ’24 on vocals and guitar, Colin McNamara ’25 on bass, and Sean Smith ’24 on drums. Starting with one of their most beloved originals, “Maybe We’re Not Meant to Be,” the band had people up on their feet. Even more people took to the floor when they busted out a cover of “Twist and Shout,” most famously done by The Beatles. Finally, the group showcased a newer original called “Why’d You Have to Lie to Me?” a tense indie jam that closed things out with a bang.

Originally, The Keegan Turner Band was supposed to perform next, but due to a last minute unavailability, Friday Life hopped on the bill around an hour in advance. The quickly assembled version of the group consisted of Jack Downey ’23 on vocals and guitar, the founder of the band back in 2017; Brendan Downey ’26 on keys, Colin McNamara ’25 on bass, and Griffin May ’24 on drums. With almost no prep time, the band launched into three originals, including fan favorite “Don’t Depend On Me.” The final song, “Young Adult,” featured Brendan unplugging his keyboard from the PA and allowing members of the audience to play it. This certainly caught people off guard!

The Grapes went on next. Their lineup consisted of Jack Wilmot ’24 on vocals, Ryan Peduto ’25 on guitar, Alex Rzehak ’23 on guitar, Ava Dobski ’25 on bass, and Brendan Greene ’23 on drums. With each performance, this group continues to get tighter, and that was on full display here. The first two songs they performed showcased their funkier side: “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder and “Brick House” by The Commodores. After this, they cranked things up for a smoky rendition of “All Along the Watchtower” in the vein of Jimi Hendrix. Peduto’s blistering solo did the legend justice.

Finally, St. Joe and the Dorms took the stage. Immediately after they plugged in and began playing, the crowd was on their feet and dancing. They kicked things off with “I Wanna be Sedated” by The Ramones before blasting right into “Fight For Your Right” by The Beastie Boys. Finally, they had the crowd singing along to their original “Sometimes I Think.” Griffin May ’24 (vocals, guitar) and Jack Downey ’23 (vocals, bass) hardly spent any time on the ground, while Cat Mazo ’19 laid down some tasty grooves on the kit. It was a spectacular end to a spectacular event.

After some deliberation, the judges (Father Justin Bolger O.P., Father Jordan Zajac O.P., and Father Simon Teller O.P.) came forward with their decision. The rankings: The Grapes and Freshman Year tied for third, St. Joe and the Dorms came in second, and The Hopeless Romantics took home first place. Big congratulations to them. Make sure to follow all these bands on social media and stay tuned regarding their activities going forward.

Slavin Lawn Comes Alive for First Big BOP Event of the Year

by The Cowl Editor on September 29, 2022


Campus


On Sept. 18, Providence College celebrated Prova, hosted by BOP, with a fun carnival theme. There were a bunch of fun things to do scattered across Slavin Lawn, and great snacks to follow it up. Ice cream sandwiches, churros, and mini pancakes were available along with an assortment of carnival snacks like cotton candy and popcorn. There was even a mechanical bull for students to try their luck at!

As one of the first big events hosted by BOP this year, expectations were low. But due to disappointment at last year’s Prova, BOP felt pressure to amp up the event. Myles Johnson ’24, Chair of BOP’s Social Committee, said, “We had less of a turnout than expected last year, so this year I wanted to put an emphasis on Prova, because I wanted to get people there and build momentum as we create new events. On BOP, we have a lot of responsibility to make sure the campus is lively and energetic, and I hope Prova did that.”

BOP takes its first events of the year seriously because they are often the first experiences of student life on campus and the first impression ever for freshmen. Johnson said, “It’s one of those events we rely on a lot to introduce who we are as a board, so I think in my perspective it serves as our welcome to the PC community every year. It’s our first big event, it showcases what we do…A lot of freshmen are looking for their ‘at home’ moment, and I think that’s what I wanted Prova to be.”

One of the highlights of the event was the petting zoo area, which featured alpacas, bunnies, lambs, and goats. Students were able to play with the animals and feed them hay. The adorable animals were great for de-stressing students with those early semester jitters – there’s nothing more relaxing than chilling with a bunch of baby goats! It was a great way to kick off the semester and say goodbye to summer.

Another moment that generated excitement was the dog show, which featured a variety of cute pups showing off their best tricks while winning every student’s heart. The dogs performed a variety of stunts with the trainers, and students were impressed by their high energy and impressive skill. From obstacle courses to racing to frisbee-catching jumps, these dogs could do it all! 

BOP also was selling Prova t-shirts at the event and there was a carnival game where one person could win a Squishmallow. There was a limited supply and they went fairly quickly, but it was still a fun game for students to partake in. One student from the Class of 2025 said, “It was a lot of fun! I love events that get everyone outside, especially when the weather is still nice out. The food was so delicious and really hit the spot. I went to bed feeling ready for the week to come.”

Another student from the Class of 2024 said, “I love the food trucks; it lets students who have meal plans have other kinds of food. It’s a real treat for the whole student body, and I think more events should have them! Seriously, I go to most events that have them.”

Overall, students were happy and BOP was pleased with how the event turned out. “It was great! Everything was really successful and a lot of people came, and the food was really good,” Johnson said. “We probably had around 500 people there, when in the past we probably had around 350. Slavin Lawn felt energetic.”

BOP Holds Its First Event of the Semester

by Eileen Cooney '23 on September 9, 2022
News Staff


Campus


On Friday Sept. 2, Providence College’s Board of Programmers kicked off the Fall 2022 semester with its marquee event: “Fall Semester Kick-Off.” The annual event, which aims to welcome all students back to campus after three months of summer break, took place in McPhail’s. Though McPhail’s wasn’t officially supposed to open until next week, it had a soft opening to celebrate the occasion and welcome both the new and returning members of the Friar community. 

Featuring free Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwiches and live music, as well as handouts of various BOP merchandise such as water bottles, pens, and blankets, the kick-off was catered specifically towards freshmen, to showcase all the fun events that Student Activities and the Board of Programmers sponsor throughout the semester. Yet, students from all other classes also attended, enjoying the chance to catch up with one another and experience the warm welcome back to campus. 

Spearheading the event was returning BOP member and head of the entertainment committee, Mason Manware ’23. “I was really excited for this event,” Manware said. “The fall semester kick off was such a great event last year in 2021 to welcome everyone back to in-person events after a year of virtual ones in 2020, and I am so happy I got to continue the tradition.” Manware also said that the event was a good way to advertise the Involvement Fair to underclassmen, which took place this past Sunday. 

Overall, Manware stated that “the event got me excited and looking ahead to keeping the energy up with even more great events upcoming from the Board of Programmers this semester.”

Look How Far We’ve Come, Providence College

by John Downey '23 on May 6, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Look How Far We’ve Come, Providence College

Quinn XCII Performs at PC’s 2022 Spring Concert

By Grace Whitman ’22

Two years ago, the Providence College student body was excited to return to campus after spring break to see Two Friends and Matoma perform at Spring Concert 2020, but the world had other plans. Yet throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friar community showed resilience and perseverance, making it possible for Spring Concert to return to campus for the first time in three years last Saturday, April 30. 

This year’s concert took place in Peterson Recreation Center and was headlined by Quinn XCII and featured opener DJ Clockwork. It was the most-attended Spring Concert in PC’s history, a testament to how the campus community is truly soaking in every in-person moment of this school year. As Quinn XCII sings, “This is All We’ve Ever Wanted, Look How Far We’ve Come.” 

BOP’s Entertainment committee, chaired by Gracie Higgins ’22, has been working tirelessly all year to make Spring Concert happen after receiving some pushback from the administration related to safety concerns. Higgins said of the concert, “It’s absolutely incredible, as it’s the first Spring Concert that anyone on the Board has worked because of COVID-19. It has been incredible to watch it come into place behind the scenes, something that none of us had been able to experience before from this angle.”

Quinn XCII got his start on SoundCloud and achieved more mainstream success with his songs like “Love Me Less” with MAX, “Stacy,” and “Stay Next to Me” featuring Chelsea Cutler, who performed at PC in January 2019. 

When asked why the board selected Quinn XCII for Spring Concert, Higgins said, “We chose him because he is a fun, up-and-coming artist and one that a variety of students will enjoy regardless of their music taste. He also embodies a lot of Providence College’s values such as loving one another, enjoying yourself, and having a good time.”

The doors to Peterson opened at 7 P.M., and students filed in over the course of the next two hours until Quinn XCII hit the stage. He played for over an hour, performing some of his most well–known songs and repping a number 22 PC Hockey jersey. During his set, he mentioned that he has a strong connection to Rhode Island: he wrote his newest album, Change of Scenery II, in Newport last year.

PC’s campus has not had a “normal” spring semester since 2019, so with this year’s seniors graduating, Spring Concert and other second-semester campus traditions stood to be forgotten if they did not take place this year. As Higgins pointed out, “Spring Concert was on the verge of being lost entirely as a tradition for PC. As a senior this year and not having one since I was a freshman, if there wasn’t one this year, it might have been lost as a tradition.”

It is all about the scenery along the route, so to the Class of 2022, and the rest of the student body, enjoy the last few weeks of the year—and enjoy another day in paradise.

Dancing in the Dark

by John Downey '23 on March 3, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Dancing in the Dark

Silent Disco Proves to be a Massive Hit

Jack Downey ’23

When BOP and WDOM unveiled their joint event, a “silent disco” at McPhail’s, Providence College students’ confusion was evident. Not many people knew what a silent disco entailed. This mystery, however, built excitement for the event. As the date of the disco, Feb. 25, drew closer, students’ anticipation was palpable. Nonetheless, the question remained: how much of this intrigue would turn into attendance?

It turns out that a lot of it would. One look into McPhail’s during the course of the disco provided quite a spectacular sight: a crowd of people adorned with large, brightly-colored headphones dancing and singing to music that only they could hear. Aside from the sounds of shoes sliding on the floor and the excited murmur of voices, the event lived up to its name, as music could not be heard outside of the event.

The light show on display added a lot to the event. Along with the multicolored headphones that attendees wore, the disco also featured blinking glasses, light-up rings, and lasers that moved along the ceiling and walls. Overall, the visuals harkened back to the days of middle school parties, conjuring images of a bunch of tweens running around in a school gym to the sounds of Avicii and Katy Perry as rainbow colored lights flashed in all directions. Indeed, the event certainly brought on a feeling of nostalgia.

There is no way anyone can write about a silent disco, however, without mentioning the music. One of the coolest parts of the event was a function on the headphones that allowed users to switch channels. Three different computers broadcast music at once, and those in attendance could move a switch to essentially turn the dial to another song whenever they felt like it. As a result, there was a variety of dancing going on at once, which made the event even more entertaining to witness. People enjoyed themselves with a variety of rap, hip-hop, alt rock, and pop tunes as the night progressed.

However, at certain points, DJ Kieran Kraus ’23 silenced the various channels in order to get everyone to listen to the same song. These tracks were typically ones with some type of dance associated with them, including “Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid, “Cotton-Eyed Joe” by Rednex, “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO, and “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” by Soulja Boy. This move turned out to be immensely successful, as the crowd all began doing the dances in unison. “Cupid Shuffle,” in particular, proved to be an amazing scene, as people slid to the left and right in sync as if choreographed. During moments like these, the night was elevated to another level.

By the time the silent disco began winding down, people clearly had no regrets in attending. Many of those who participated could be heard saying “this was a lot more fun than I expected it to be,” and “that was a really great time!” The public praise was especially meaningful because it showed that new and unique events, such as the silent disco, can work. WDOM and BOP are to be commended for breaking ground here, and, hopefully, new and unique ideas continue to make musical magic happen here at PC.

Dark Storms Over the Capitol: Policing and Democracy After the Jan. 6 Insurrection

by The Cowl Editor on March 4, 2021


Campus


PC professors discussed the differences between the protest on Jan. 6 with the BLM protests. Photo courtesy of religionunplugged.com

by Addison Wakelin ’22

Assistant News Editor

On March 2, the Board of Programmers and the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs hosted a panel of Providence College faculty to discuss the topic of the double standards in protest policing and the implications of the Jan. 6. attack on the U.S. Capitol Building. The faculty panel included Dr. Keith Morton of the public and community service and American studies departments; Dr. Jeff Johnson of the history and American studies departments, and Dr. Paul Herron of the political science department, all of whom gave diverse views on the events that occurred.

On Jan. 6, shortly before pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol, Donald Trump spoke at the Stop the Steal rally, which his campaign helped organize. Projecting into an echo chamber of lies and conspiracies, Trump made various false claims about the presidential election being stolen, widespread voter fraud, and how he won by a landslide. Less than 30 minutes after Trump’s speech, the pro-Trump crowds had formed outside the Capitol, and the ensuing events occurred shortly after. Five people died in the aftermath, including U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick.

The talk on March 2 gave important insight into the different political and social implications of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Morton most notably detailed the stark contrast of policing during the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and the Black Lives Matter protests this past summer.

The events that unfolded on Jan. 6 represent the deeply rooted institutionalized issues surrounding policing and race in the United States. The protests this past summer over the unjust murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd reflect larger issues of selective policing and deeply rooted racial inequality in this country.

“Our history of racialized violence by police influences all of the decisions and actions made in both the marches and in the insurrections and the ways in which we’re trying to interpret what those events mean,” stated Morton, reflecting on the distinct contrast of policing between the two events.

It has been close to two months since the assault on the Capitol took place. Of the thousands of participants in the attack, only 52 people were arrested on Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C., according to law enforcement officials. As of March 2, only 266 rioters have been formally charged.
In contrast, at the peak of the BLM protests this past summer, 427 protestors were arrested between May 30 and June 2, 2020, according to the metropolitan police department. The differences in police presence during the BLM protests over the summer versus the attack on Jan. 6 perpetuate those exact racial prejudices and issues with policing.
Johnson also provided insight into the ways in which history tends to repeat itself in American politics. Johnson described how much of the Jan. 6 attack mirrors past historical events, particularly the rhetoric surrounding the Burning of Washington on Aug. 24, 1814 and the controversial 2000 U.S. presidential election.

Herron, who specializes in American political history and constitutional law, raised important questions about the role of American political institutions in confronting such assaults on democracy. One of the most important questions Herron posed was about the role of Congress and the vice president in counting electoral votes, especially in their participation in aiding in the peaceful transfer of power.

The participation of several members of Congress, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, and Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who all rejected the electoral college votes of key swing states and have been accused of inciting the attack, has led to calls for their resignations.

The three faculty members reflected on the importance of remembering such events as Jan. 6, especially in the magnitude of precedence for the future state of politics in the United States. The insurrectionist attempt has proven the necessity for U.S. democratic institutions to be protected, and that the restoration of democracy is essential for the future of both American politics and civil society.

Winter Flea

by The Cowl Editor on December 5, 2019


Campus


photo courtesy of Board of Programmers (BOP)

by Hannah Langley ’21

News Co-Editor

With the season of Christmas and gift-giving upon us, Providence College’s Board of Programmers (BOP) has invited several small, local companies from the Rhode Island area to attend their Winter Flea event this Friday, December 6. While BOP has held several of these indoor flea markets with local vendors before, this will be the first time the event is held just before the holiday season.

“The Winter Flea is a winterized version of our Friars Flea, which has been very successful in the past,” commented Emily Mastroianni ’21, one of the members of BOP running this event. She mentioned how this event in particular is extremely helpful around Christmas time, saying, “It’s great for fun Christmas gifts or for giving yourself a break from the stress before finals week by buying yourself a little something as well.”

The Winter Flea will host several vendors from the past, including Nitro Cart, Frey Florist and Greenhouse, and Colonel’s Collectibles, as well as new additions, including Universal by Nature, The People’s Gold, and Augusta Street Kitchen. With a wide variety of items, ranging from jewelry and plants to vintage comic books and baked goods, there is no limit to what you might find at this year’s Flea.

Mastroianni emphasized the fact that she thinks this event is a great way to highlight the unique offerings found in the surrounding area, as well as a great way to promote shopping locally. “All proceeds from this event go to the vendors themselves, and I think it is important to support local and upcoming businesses,” said Mastroianni.

This is the first year Mastroianni will be running the Winter Flea, and she has loved planning it. “I thought this event was such a different and cool idea after seeing it done so flawlessly in the past,” she said, “and I am excited to see how the Winter Flea goes after planning it for so long.”

Mastroianni also adds, “I hope that students are excited to see all that the Winter Flea has to offer, and that they get in the holiday spirit by coming. After all,” she continued, “the holidays are right around the corner!”

The Winter Flea will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Slavin Atrium. The whole PC community is invited to attend.

Winter Flea

by The Cowl Editor on December 5, 2019


Campus


photo courtesy of Board of Programmers (BOP)

by Hannah Langley ’21

News Co-Editor

With the season of Christmas and gift-giving upon us, Providence College’s Board of Programmers (BOP) has invited several small, local companies from the Rhode Island area to attend their Winter Flea event this Friday, December 6. While BOP has held several of these indoor flea markets with local vendors before, this will be the first time the event is held just before the holiday season.

“The Winter Flea is a winterized version of our Friars Flea, which has been very successful in the past,” commented Emily Mastroianni ’21, one of the members of BOP running this event. She mentioned how this event in particular is extremely helpful around Christmas time, saying, “It’s great for fun Christmas gifts or for giving yourself a break from the stress before finals week by buying yourself a little something as well.”

The Winter Flea will host several vendors from the past, including Nitro Cart, Frey Florist and Greenhouse, and Colonel’s Collectibles, as well as new additions, including Universal by Nature, The People’s Gold, and Augusta Street Kitchen. With a wide variety of items, ranging from jewelry and plants to vintage comic books and baked goods, there is no limit to what you might find at this year’s Flea.

Mastroianni emphasized the fact that she thinks this event is a great way to highlight the unique offerings found in the surrounding area, as well as a great way to promote shopping locally. “All proceeds from this event go to the vendors themselves, and I think it is important to support local and upcoming businesses,” said Mastroianni.

This is the first year Mastroianni will be running the Winter Flea, and she has loved planning it. “I thought this event was such a different and cool idea after seeing it done so flawlessly in the past,” she said, “and I am excited to see how the Winter Flea goes after planning it for so long.”

Mastroianni also adds, “I hope that students are excited to see all that the Winter Flea has to offer, and that they get in the holiday spirit by coming. After all,” she continued, “the holidays are right around the corner!”

The Winter Flea will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Slavin Atrium. The whole PC community is invited to attend.

BOP Hosts Trip to Cycle Bar

by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019


Campus


by Eileen Cooney ’23

News Staff

Because the month of October was Mental Health Awareness Month here at Providence College, PC’s Board of Programmers (BOP) organized many fun activities promoting self-care and wellness. Though the month of October has ended and November is now upon us, BOP’s message to students about the importance of taking care of themselves has not stopped. That is why on Wednesday, November 6 the club put on an event in conjunction with CycleBar in Providence.

In the past couple years, spin studios such as SoulCycle, CycleBar, Equinox, and many others have taken the fitness world by storm. Spin classes and studios are popular amongst the public because they offer an upbeat, positive environment for people to get a good workout and also feel a sense of community with others while doing so. 

CycleBar in particular boasts that its wide array of different spin classes will “calm your mind, elevate your mood, and revive your senses.” Thus, the franchise promotes fitness as well as self-care and mental health.

This event was very well attended and very well-received by participants. Although at times travel events can be difficult to plan because people have to buy tickets in advance, the school usually provides transportation. This event “was definitely a hit and people seemed to really enjoy it,” says Wini Kennedy ‘20. Students loved the upbeat, accepting environment, and first-time spinners had a blast. It is something that Kennedy says BOP will definitely be doing again in the future. 

 In addition to the trip to CycleBar, BOP has also organized many other fitness events this year. Back in September there was an event called “HIIT and Flow” that invited Crossfit Providence and Barre and Soul Yoga to teach a fitness class on Lennon Field. Additionally, last semester BOP also planned a “Silent Spin Event.” 

Yoga, cycling, and other fitness classes are great ways for students to take care of themselves and have fun with friends while doing so. All of the fabulous fitness events that BOP organizes on campus, offer students a fun way to make sure that they are continually taking care of themselves and prioritizing their health and wellness. The trip to CycleBar was another great reminder of this. 

PC offers several cycling classes throughout the week.
NORA JOHNSON ’20/THECOWL

Lions, and Friars, and Bears, Oh My!: BOP Hosts ProvapaZOO for PC Community

by The Cowl Editor on September 12, 2019


Campus


ProvapaZOO was a hit for Friars and animal lovers alike.

by Hannah Langley ’21

News Co-Editor

For nearly ten years, Providence College’s Board of Programmers (BOP) has hosted a day full of fun and activities in early September known as Provapalooza. This year, BOP’s social committee decided to change things up by hosting ProvapaZOO, which had the same feel and spirit of the original event, but with a wilder twist.

BOP’s current social committee, led by Maria Johnsen ’20 and Shannon McDonald ’21, along with Zack Dinopoulos ’20, Emily Mastroianni ’21, Kevin Michels ’21, and Fred Desravines ’21, began planning this event back in June with the help of the student activities office.

The idea for ProvapaZOO came about last year when BOP was informed that the former title, Provapalooza, faced some trademarking and copyright issues. According to Johnsen, the name Provapalooza was found to be too similar to Lollapalooza, an annual music festival that takes place at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.

Because the name could not  legally be used anymore, the committee proposed the title ProvapaZOO. “We dreamed up ProvapaZOO walking through Alumni,” recalled McDonald. “We thought it would be cool to somehow have an animal themed prova.” Johnsen thinks the name change was successful, saying, “ProvapaZOO sounds a little wacky when you first hear it, but I think the zoo theme got people excited.”

Despite the name change, much of the event remained similar to previous years, with several new additions and twists. One of the main differences was the location of the event, which was moved to the Concannon Patio due to weather issues. Johnsen explained that Smith Lawn, which is where the event has been traditionally held the past few years, was too wet due to recent rain to hold the event.

Even though BOP had this last-minute change in venue, Johnsen thinks it actually ended up working toward BOP’s advantage. Not only did it allow them to keep the event outside, it also made the event more accessible to students living on upper campus. “Having it on upper campus this year definitely got more underclassmen to come, which is awesome,” said Johnsen.

Keeping with the zoo theme, BOP also decided to add another attraction to their usual line-up—Barn Babies. “They have always been a crowd favorite,” noted McDonald. Other additions to the event included a performance by the Naticks, a local Rhode Island band, BBQ provided by B&M Catering, Spike’s Hot Dogs, Like No Udder Vegan Ice Cream, and a beer garden for students over 21.

Lawn games and a photo station were also set up throughout the space outside Concannon, along with balloons and other fun, festive decorations.

McDonald also talked about how she was put in charge of designing the long sleeve t-shirts for ProvapaZOO this year, which she recalled as one of her favorite parts of organizing and planning the event. “To see the entire Board of Programmers and now other students wearing the shirt I designed is a dream come true,” said McDonald.

Both McDonald and Johnsen stated their excitement over how well they felt the event went. “I had a vision which I can happily say was met and exceeded,” said McDonald. “Our months of planning and hard work were rewarded.” Johnsen also stated her enthusiasm not only about ProvapaZOO’s success, but for the future events planned for BOP’s social committee. “Personally, I’m really happy with how everything turned out,” she stated, “and I’m excited to get a chance to do it again for Clam Jam in the spring.”