The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Weather puts damper on Fall Fest

By Erica Martinez and Courtney Kaiser 

Due to Saturday’s heavy rain, the university’s Fall Fest closed at noon, putting a damper on student organization fundraising. The festival’s eighth year closed out with more boom than bang.

On campus Saturday morning, thunder echoed and rain came down as students, faculty, staff and community members filled the cafeteria to hear the “Star Spangled Banner” sung by MBA graduate student Ralph Wright, which kicked off this year’s Fall Fest.

Despite the wet weather, some student organizations arrived on campus to raise funds for their members, but other groups canceled before the event began. The Kinesiology Club, the Society of Professional Journalists and MASA were among the few organizations that showed up.

Special education senior Shelby Benzoni, and senior in international business, Yamell Valencia are crowned Mr. and Ms. A&M-San Antonio. Photo by Ami Sarabia
Special education senior Shelby Benzoni, and senior in international business, Yamell Valencia are crowned Mr. and Ms. A&M-San Antonio. Photo by Ami Sarabia

Fall Fest wasn’t the only event affected by the remnants of Hurricane Patricia as it pushed through South Texas. Events across the city shut down due to the rain including Luminaria, a contemporary arts festival. The safety of event goers was a priority for organizers.

“Our main concern was safety for our guests. We wanted to make sure everyone was going to get home safe,” said Hoyt Garner, Campus Activities Board president. “That’s why we ended Fall Fest early.”

Last year, students sold 7,100 tickets, totaling $14,200, at Fall Fest, according to Cheryl Le Gras, director of student activities.

Rain and road closures definitely caused a decrease in earnings, club officers said.

“The weather did affect Fall Fest. This event helps the organization raise money and we’re not going be able to raise as much,” said Kathryn Pearl the Chief of MASA, a new student organization on campus. “There’s no other event like this throughout the year so we missed out.”

Fall Fest organizers don’t know exactly what was lost by weather and early closure. This year’s event moved to a different system where participants paid directly at the booths, as opposed to buying tickets.

By moving to this system, there is no way to gauge exactly how bad the weather cost student clubs this year.

Ballet folklorico dancers get ready to perform their state of Tamaulipas dance. Photo by Ami Sarabia
Ballet folklorico dancers get ready to perform their state of Tamaulipas dance. Photo by Ami Sarabia

Garner said there were more than 27 vendors signed up before Fall Fest began. Of those, 13 were food vendors. Walking into the Central Academic Building that day though only a fraction showed up.

Local resident Gabriel Avideo braved the weather with his family to attend Fall Fest, if only for a short time.

“We were originally supposed to go to the Chemistry Festival at A&M-College Station, but due to the weather we decided to stay,” Aviedo said. “I knew this event was happening because we always attend the school events. The kids have fun and the food is delicious.”

Fall Fest set out with the best of intentions, not just to raise club funds, but also give students the opportunity to spread awareness about their organizations. Campus Activities will hold a Fall Fest After Action Meeting for student organizations on Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in CAB, Suite 218.

Art Olague, director of Rec Sports, planned competitions that awarded winners a pumpkin. Rec Sports created their own pumpkin patch for the festival.

“You can decorate it and take it home, or decorate it and take it to the slingshot,” Olague said. “The slingshot was set to launch the pumpkins into an open field behind the Central Academic Building.

Psychology senior Alex Gonzalez paints a Dia de los Muertos mask for graduate education student Jessica Gonzalez. They were trying to promote Mexican American studies with designs of Dia de los Muertos. Photo by Ami Sarabi
Psychology senior Alex Gonzalez paints a Dia de los Muertos mask for graduate education student Jessica Gonzalez. They were trying to promote Mexican-American studies with designs of Dia de los Muertos. Photo by Ami Sarabi

Olague’s aim for the pumpkin slingshot was not just an empty field, but also, the target of creating a new yearly tradition

“My hope is that it becomes a tradition,” he said. “That it evolves into students building their own slingshots, and that it will continue on every year as the way to close Fall Fest.”

He was quick to add that you would not just get a pumpkin for participation, but that it would be a competition.

Unfortunately, those pumpkins never made it outside to the slingshot. In fact, with the prediction of rain early in the week, slinging pumpkins was one of the first activities to go.

Fall Fest is one of the biggest events students fundraise at during the semester, but it’s more than just the money.

As a growing university with many new clubs on campus some go just to get their name out there. This was the case for Rec Sports who provided all of their activities free of charge.

“We really want to get some exposure and provide some fun and memorable experiences,” Olague said.

About the Author

Erica Martinez
Throughout my life, I’ve heard people tell me that the bad people come from the South Side of San Antonio. I went into Communications so I can be that voice that’s telling future generations that you can be anything you want to be. Coming from the “bad side” of town doesn’t mean you won’t amount to anything. I’m proud of who I am, where I come from, and it will always keep me humble. In my senior year of high school I lost my father which forced me to work so I could help my mom pay the bills since she received government assistance. I’ve held a few jobs from working at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Furr’s Buffet, Speedy’s Chicken and finally settling at H-E-B. Working and going to school has been tough on me since my time is stretched but I've learned to manage my time whether it be waking up early before work to complete my classwork, or moving my work schedule around to do my part on a group project. I’m in my last year of college which I never thought would come. I’ve had a few setbacks, but that didn’t stop me from pursuing my goals.

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