CSUEB Concord Campus celebrates al Fresco

• October 18, 2013 12:00am

Over 250 students attended the Concord Campus Al Fresco event  on the afternoon and evening of October 9. The event has been held every year as a way to strengthen the campus community, and to promote various services to the student population. Because most Concord students belong to cohorts with set day or night class schedules, the campus hosted separate day and evening events. The former was primarily attended by Nursing, Pre-Nursing, and Health Sciences students, the latter by students enrolled in other majors.

Students were treated to a free hotdog lunch provided by Bentelino's caterers. Campus staff provided cards directing students to visit tables highlighting information on a host of campus services, ranging from advising, tutoring and student health to library services. Students who visited all information tables were eligible to enter a campus raffle to compete for a number of prizes. The University Police Department displayed a new Dodge Charger Patrol Car. Dozens of students lined up to take "selfy's" while sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. UPD officers also displayed information on a variety of public safety issues.

A representative from Sports Basement, a local sporting goods chain, was on hand to help students compete in a variety of physical fitness contests under a large tent provided by the chain.

Over 50 students signed up to participate in a number of campus groups, including student ambassadors, event volunteers, and a student focus group that will meet with the campus director on a monthly basis to provide input on student issues. Evening students were also treated to a free meal, as well as jazz music provided by the band of Cal State East Bay student Michael Booker.

"I was exremely pleased by the size of the turnout," said Robert Phelps, Concord Campus director. "This was especially true at the afternoon event. In the past, the campus was very quiet during the day, with the largest student contingents arriving for 630pm classes." With large daytime cohorts, particularly in the health care fields, the traditional pattern seems to have changed, and the supply of large classroom space during the day has become rather tight."The flow of students during the evening was steady, but the noon-2pm session was crowded and lively. We actually ran out of food, although not till the very end of the event. Dozens of students signed up to get involved in building student community, and I was happy to see that."

For more on the Concord Campus, visit: concord

See pictures of the event on the CSUEB Concord Facebook page.

DI