By Dax Benway, Senior Reporter
With summer right around the corner, the Northwestern Student Government Association and Student Athlete Council are putting on the annual Bahama Breakaway from 5 to 8:30 p.m. April 27.
The event will take place on the university’s intramural field instead of at the downtown square as in previous years.
This makes life a lot easier for the people running the event, organizers said. Students don’t have to go through as much getting things set up, like bringing sand downtown for the volleyball court and ordering porta-potties to provide bathrooms.
“Having the event on campus this year has saved us a lot of hassle,” said Olivia Yandel, sponsor of Student Government Association. “Normally, I’m having to deal with a lot trying to get everything set up at the town square and have to jump through a lot of hoops. So, it’s been nice not having to do so many steps this year.”
With there being a new venue, there will still be the same events that Bahama Breakaway has always had as well as new ones.
There will be a six vs. six co-ed sand volleyball tournament, cup pong, a cornhole tournament open to everyone, tug-of-war, yard games, a watermelon eating contest, ax-throwing, free food and snow cones provided by Ignite Physical Therapy.
Students can sign up for all the events and tournaments at the wellness center. Sign-up sheets are at the front desk, and all winners will be given cash prizes.
Bahama Breakaway is a longstanding tradition. At the end of every year, SGA hosts the event to bring students together and do something fun before going home for the summer.
“One of my favorite parts about Bahama Breakaway is getting to see the students get together and interact,” Yandel said. “There are not many big events like this, and to put on an event that brings a good time and smiles really makes me happy.”
Student government leaders have said they want Bahama Breakaway to continue growing. In the future, they hope it can include a concert for the students.
Yandel said she has been wanting to do this for a while now to make the event more popular.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to put on,” Yandel said. “We’ve just never had enough resources to do so. In the next couple years, I hope we are in a position to be able to put on an in-person concert. We just want to do something fun for the students after everything is all said and done.”