Warm laughter echoes through the chilled night air. A group of people crowds around the table, flashlights flickering off their faces. Some hold knives, which they deftly use to remove the tops of their respective pumpkins. Next, a spoon or hand is thrust into the orange gourd, pulling long orange fibers and white seeds out. These pile up in the bowls and bags provided. Some are rescued by a student. These will be roasted later.
Then comes the creativity: choosing a design. Some pick elaborate faces, while others feature simple shapes. All are beautiful, especially when lit from the inside. A few bystanders enjoy cinnamon rolls as they watch.
The pumpkin carving party described was hosted by the Rotaract Club on Monday, Oct. 29. Many people don not know what Rotaract is. The club only had its beginning last year.
“I was in a Rotaract Club back in my own country, in Burkina Faso,” explained senior Linda Ouedraogo who is a founding member and vice president of Rotaract. “I came here to the U.S., no Rotaract at EMU, [which was] sad for me.”
This fall-themed gettogether is only one of the events hosted by the club, with the goal of letting people know who Rotaract is and what they do.
First-year Rodrigo Barahona stated at the event, “I was always interested in the social work stuff…after this I think I will definitely come more.”
The goals of the club are to create more service opportunities on campus, connect with the Harrisonburg community, and help students network with community members through the club’s ties to Rotary Club of Harrisonburg. “It’s supposed to be a club that goes after just four years of college and into the future,” said junior Donaldo Lleshi, president of the club.
The club’s first event of the year was received very well by attendees from the EMU community and students. Philip Martin, an EMU staff member in facilities management, came with his wife and grandchildren. “It was a lot of fun. [The] kids had a blast,” he said of the carving. “Free pumpkin seeds” were a highlight for junior Gabrielle McMillon. First-year Hannah Neebe said, “It was a lot of fun. I have a good pumpkin now.” Her favorite part was “the [pumpkin] guts.”
The gathering also achieved the goals of getting the Rotaract Club out there and bringing the community together. Firstyear Chretienne Damaska was “pretty excited” about Rotaract after braving the chill weather for the party. “I think I’m going to try it out.” Ouedraogo pointed out, “You saw… those two families. Completely opposite cultures. They maybe wouldn’t have met… but because they were both interested in carving a pumpkin, they came here. They had fun together. Yeah, that’s the goal of it all. People enjoying their time.”
Interested in joining the Rotaract Club? Meetings are held in University Commons, room 176 at 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Visit and become an integrated part of the community.
