- Communiversity draws crowds for food, service, athletics events
Visitors put together stuffed animals for the Build a Reading Buddy program Sept. 5, 2011 - The experts predicted some nasty weather on Saturday, and they were right. But that wasn’t going to stop the second annual Communiversity Day celebration at Valparaiso University from being another big success.
Storms rolled in, bringing rain in bursts, making for a soggy day and sending people inside the Athletics-Recreation Center to escape the downpours, but the skies cleared up – for the most part — as members of the Valparaiso University community and residents of the region enjoyed a range of fun activities.
Those included a well-attended tailgate barbecue catered by Dining Services; a volleyball tournament in the ARC; the Build a Reading Buddy service project, hosted by the Valpo softball team; and the Valpo vs. Franklin football game under the lights at Brown Field.
The volleyball team finished second in the round robin Volley Brawl tournament, improving to 6-2 on the season in the process.
“We love it,” Alicia Peiffer told the Northwest Indiana Times newspaper after attending the tournament with her two teenagers, both volleyball players themselves. “We’re having a lot of fun.”
The fun continued at the football game. Valpo took an early lead in an excitement-filled shootout, and went up 35-28 early in the second half, before ultimately falling 49-35.
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A large crowd, including an enthusiastic student section, cheered on the Crusaders in what was the second game in history played under the lights on campus, following last year’s inaugural contest at the first Communiversity Day.
The spirit of Communiversity Day, which celebrates the University’s positive relationship with the region, may have been most evident under the Build a Reading Buddy tent. Visitors stuffed bears for I Need a Hug, which promotes reading among elementary school students. After stuffing the bears to benefit the United Way program, volunteers received a book in return.
Build a Reading Buddy brought together kids and grownups, visitors from the volleyball tournament and the barbecue – all sorts of folks, showcasing community spirit and togetherness.