Published: Monday, 24 October 2022
Written by Gabriela Biagetti, Communications Assistant
After years of constant online stimulation, we’re excited to experience Smorgasport in person—back and better than ever! And to add to this excitement, Smorgasport is celebrating its 20th anniversary! This year is the 20th time we are hosting this special event for LBSU students. And, there are so many things to look forward to: carnival rides, food, games, prizes, photo booths and more. Students should take advantage of this free opportunity to meet new people, connect with friends, and experience the attractions for no cost. Did we mention it was free?
This Friday, Oct. 28, will kick off one of the largest events for Associated Students, Inc. (ASI). However, to appreciate Smorgasport in all its glory, we must look at where it all began. As we walk down memory lane, we remember Smorgasport’s very first event all the way back in 2000! It started as a brainstorming idea between club sports directors and ASI leaders to create more ways for students to have fun and stay entertained, without drug and alcohol consumption. The push for a healthier party environment resulted in 50 students attending an ‘all-you-can-play buffet’ behind the kinesiology ‘kin’ courtyard. With the small size, it was tough to spread the word and get more people involved. However, after the rave of the first event, Smorgasport propelled into the success we know it to be today!
Smorgasport impressed the LBSU community, and those who attended were the biggest ambassadors for the event through word of mouth. We spoke to current ASI leaders who were active at the start of Smorgasport and listened to their memories of the first few versions of the event. Aaron Elimelech, Assistant Director of Communications for ASI, remembers “the energy of the clubs and organizations coming together.” Elimelech, an ASI Marketing student assistant at the time of the first event, recalls Smorgasport as a place where the entire campus community connected and had a unique opportunity to interact.
We also had the opportunity to hear from Sylvana Cicero, the Associate Executive Director of ASI and 49er Shops, Inc. – one of the original collaborators for Smorgasport. Cicero looks back at where this event began and describes how proud she is of what Smorgasport has become for LBSU. “It was hard to pull people for the first event” Cicero says, but “now it is our tradition!”
We look forward to hosting this awesome event each year, and we hope to see you there! For more information, and for all your Smorgasport questions, check out the Smorgasport event page!
