Fun Times at the Hog Roasts

The Geology Club has had a long-standing tradition of having a Hog Roast (including tasty food, music, and kegs) as a college and community event on the last day of classes each spring. Though this year wasn't exactly a hog roast in the technical sense or open to everyone (just geology peoples) I like to think of it as my fourth hog roast.

Freshman Year: I had been to one Geology Club meeting and somehow found myself elected Vice President for the following year. So I was (along with the other new officers and some new geology majors--none of which I really knew at all) enlisted in helping with the year end hog roast. The day before the big event we got together to cut up the meat and put it into/onto the roasters. This is an ordeal that takes a decent amount of people and big knives. Then, this one kid shows up in a blaze orange jumpsuit and a Journey CD, and I thought to myself "What a joker?! But he seems pretty cool, I guess." On the day of the Hog Roast, we had absolutely gorgeous weather! A perfect day for a big potluck get together outside. Aside from helping out, I spent a good chunk of my time kicking around a soccer ball with orange jumpsuit kid (named Erik) and his friend Donnie.

Sophomore Year: All of the officers from the previous year were seniors and they basically said "good luck" and left us to figure everything out on our own. So, after struggling a bit, we managed to pull off a hog roast that we were told was a pretty good time. Aside from the fact that it was rainy, windy, and cold. But we pulled it off, and we were excited!

Junior Year: This year, me and the other co-president, were just about to get the ball rolling with plans for the annual event when Health Inspector Regulation Dude sends us a letter with a very large list of regulations (many of which would be impossible for us to comply with). Given that most of our food was potluck style, for instance, there was no way for us to ensure that everything was prepared in perfectly sterile conditions. But anyways, after a lot of drama, campus emails, and newspaper articles, the ladies at food services saved our bums and helped us with the technical aspects of meeting these regulations. Weather was fairly cool, and we had a pretty good time.

Senior Year: While not an officer this year, we're a close bunch and so we know all about what's going on in the club. We weren't quite so lucky this year with help from outside groups, and realizing that we can't possibly meet all of the health regulations it was concluded that we would have the event as we wanted, but only for geology related people (thus avoiding public health concerns--yay for small private groups!). The day began with the usual shenanigans of trying to figure out where to cook the meat and such (Jamey's old research lab? sounds good!) and then running around town doing errands. And then, surprise, surprise, Morris is chilly and very windy... brrrr... Being right next to a lake didn't help with the wind at all. Then a cop showed up asking for a permit (which we didn't have... oops!) so we made some quick changes (no more keg, but cans of beer are okay) so as to avoid any legal entanglements. After everyone had supped, people focused their attention on various ways of keeping warm. Some played frisbee, some ran around, some did simple little dances, but eventually those of us left at the park late into the evening ended up kicking a soccer ball around in a small circle. Orange jumpsuit kid was there too, but this time he was sporting an orange wind breaker. Seems he has a fondness for orange.


Photo: (Taken by my Mom) Me and "orange jumpsuit kid." We've been dating now for 2 years and 7 months.