By Steven Hoskins, Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — On April 1, if a student went down to the Student Union, they would have been in for quite the sight: a large 21-by-42 foot skating rink-like rectangular area.
After signing a liability waiver and strapping on a pair of hockey skates. students got to skate across a PVC floor of 98 tiles.
Running slash sliding back in forth in utter chaos student tried their best to keep balance, more than a few failed.
Brave students skated on PVC like it was ice while others looked on both laughing and cheering at the spectacle.
Record-A-Hit Events (RAH) helped with the event. The company does many events for colleges near and far.
“About two events a week,” says Mariuaz Kaplon, an event staff member. “We come to LLCC about 4 or 5 times a year.”
When asked if there was anything special about the skates or floor Kaplon said, “No [it’s] just normal PVC and hockey skates.”
“(I) had a lot fun,” said an Nathan Bauser, the Student Government President, after an enthusiastic run. “(I) only skated a few times on ice. This is similar, but rough, as you don’t slide as much.”
When asked if he had any advice for any future skaters, he said, “Don’t be afraid to be embarrassed.”
D’Amante Pitts also said that he “had fun.”
When asked if he thought this might be a April fool’s prank, he voiced surprise. He didn’t even know it was April Fool’s Day.
Like Bauser, Pitts said that the skating was “similar to ice skating, but not as slippery, kind of bittersweet.”
He also said that “you need to make sure you have the right size skates, or it will be painful.”
Michelle Berger, Student Engagement Coordinator, said she got the idea of ice-less skating from a YouTube video. She then found RAH based near Chicago.
When asked if she purposely planned such a strange event on April fools she said she, “Didn’t originally plan it that way, but thought it would be a fun sort of reverse trick to actually have ice skating. Plus, it worked out to also help promote the Student Government elections.”
Well, the student life pulled together another fantastic event and honestly what better way to spend April 1 then slipping and sliding, with arms wildly swinging, falling and twirling, what better way than just looking like a fool.
Steven Hoskins can be reached at [email protected] or (217) 786-2311.
