Annual Weeks of Welcome Foam Party cancelled
After an eight year run, FAU will no longer host the Foam Party.
Over 600 students attended the foam party at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 18, 2012. Photo by Michelle Friswell.
August 19, 2015
Florida Atlantic will no longer be hosting the annual Weeks of Welcome (WOW) Foam Party – an on-campus party that involved inflatable foam pits.
Director of the Student Union Dan Johnson, who helps coordinate WOW, confirmed this, saying, “Our Weeks of Welcome offerings are ever changing as we look for new ways to engage our students. The Foam Party was one of the events that we felt had run its course, and we are looking at new and different programs that will help us build student engagement.”
There has been speculation that the event was cancelled due to drug and alcohol use among students. The UP was unable to reach FAU PD by publication time.
The Foam Party has been held at FAU for eight years just outside of the Student Union and usually draws in a crowd of about 1,500 students, according to past UP coverage.
Upon hearing news of the termination, several students showed their appreciation for the removal of the event.
“I think it’s a smart idea to skip the foam party because of how dangerous it’s been in the past. This school should be promoting education more, not partying,” said Marcia Lawrence, a senior majoring in sociology.
Sam Rosenfield, a senior at FAU explained “I’ve heard several reports from girls, over several years of foam parties, of guys walking up to them and shoving their hands down the girls’ pants, grabbing them, holding them down, etc. Disgusting.”
Over the years, FAU has taken several safety measures at this event. In 2012, the UP reported that students had to sign a waiver “which freed FAU of any liability,” along with going through metal detectors.
One student, does not feel the same about the cancellation.
“It’s an event that happens once a year in the fall. The school isn’t promoting partying over education. This is college, it’s a time to have fun,” explained Nick Wingward, a junior majoring in Exercise Science.
He continued, “Also revoking the foam party isn’t going to stop college students from partying. The foam party won’t prevent people from going to house parties, but it could prevent a few people from going and getting hurt. If students see they can have more fun on campus they may be more inclined to partake in more campus events.”
However, WOW will be hosting other events for students throughout the week. For more information, click here.
Check back to upressonline.com.
Marcia Lawrence is a former member of the University Press.
Erin Martin is a Contributing Writer for the University Press. If you would like to contact her regarding this or other articles, email her at [email protected].
Boca Owl • Aug 19, 2015 at 5:05 pm
Another great tradition killed by FAU. The most popular event at FAU all year and you kill it off. That’s why FAU doesn’t have more traditions, because new people take over and kill them off. What’s next, Timucua Pageant? Not long now before FAU has no traditions at all.
Erin • Aug 19, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Of course students want to enjoy their college experience, and I think it’s great that the WOW events allow students to interact and create new relationships, but the fact of the matter is that the foam party was not a safe environment. The loud music, the crowds, and the foam and lighting created an environment in which students were not able to be observant of their surroundings to the capacity that would keep them and the people around them safe. What’s more, the “security” at the foam party was woefully lacking, and FAU administration simply just doesn’t take sexual harassment seriously enough. The FAU police do a decent job, but it’s like administration can’t be bothered with it, and the environment that the foam party creates leaves many people open to unwanted and unsafe contact.
caj • Aug 19, 2015 at 4:46 pm
There is a difference between “taking classes” and “going to college”. When you are merely taking classes at an institution, education is usually your only focus, and you take classes to get a degree and move on with your life. When you “go to college”, while education is still your primary focus, you are seeking more from your institution. You are seeking social, cultural, and personal enrichment, experiences, and growth. A good institution not only provides a great education, it provides an evironment for experiences ( academic and non academic) for its students. The foam party was at its core, a social event(non alcoholic) that provided music and dance and a place for new people to meet and interact in a fun setting. I don’t see how it’s occurrence was teaching kids to focus on partying and not on academics. If we say that then we should also say that because the student union has a ping pong table and other games it is teaching kids to play games instead of studying. A university is a place that in addition to great academics and research, offers ways for students to relax and rest in the campus environment. That’s why universities have rec centers, intramurals, athletics, and funding for student clubs ranging from designing race cars to paintball.