GLI Games jumpstart new WU quality enhancement plan

By Jonathan McFadden

mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

International students and athletes flooded the area between the DiGiorgio Campus Center and West Center during common time to take advantage of games, like corn-hole. Photos by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@mytjnow.comA little rain didn’t stop the commencement of the GLI Games from taking full swing at the DiGiorgio Campus Center Concourse on November 16.

The event, which was designed to promote the Global Learning Initiative during International Week, gave international students and athletes a chance to get together, play games like such as disc toss and corn-hole and eat a variety of international fruits and cheeses from France, Greece and Mexico.

For all intents and purposes, the games accomplished what they were supposed to—spreading the word  about GLI not only to student athletes but to everyone else who happened to walk by.

“It was a success,” said Bonnye Stuart, professor of integrated marketing communication and member of GLI’s  promotions committee.

Students were also able to sample a variety of foods from other countries, including cheeses from France and chips, dip and salsa from Mexico. Photos by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@mytjnow.comPadmini Patwardhan, also a professor of integrated marketing communication, said the GLI Games were a “fabulous” way to create buzz about the program.

Having it at the DiGiorgio Campus Center, or the heart of campus as Patwardhan called it, didn’t hurt either.

“I think we should have things in the heart of campus,” Patwardhan said.

Kaitlin Sapp, sophomore integrated marketing major and student member of GLI, said she thought the turnout was great.

Sergey Belov, a native of Russia and tennis player, said he thought the event was good, but he would much rather see more people at the Big South Championship.

“It’s kind of cool,” Belov said. “It seems like they care about us.”

Attendees of the event included the men’s soccer team, women’s golf team and men’s tennis team.

“We have a lot of international student-athletes,” said Norma McDuffie, English professor, director of the CHAMPS/Life Skills program and member of GLI’s promotional committee. “We wanted to make sure they could participate as much as possible.”

The highlight of the event featured a tug-of-war contest between students and faculty.

The first round ended in three seconds. The students won.

The second round was a bit longer, but the outcome the same.

Chelsea Nelson, senior broadcast major, enjoyed basking in the glory of a student victory. 

“It was absolutely awesome,” Nelson said. “I adored it; it was good to have power over [professors] for once.”

Justin Brown, professor of mass communication and Nelson’s media law professor, was able to lick his wounds.

“They won fair and square,” Brown said.