The Easter Bunny took time from his busy holiday schedule to visit the U on Saturday.
He appeared as a part of Spring Carnival, an Easter event for students, families and kids in the community.
In previous years, the carnival hosted a traditional egg hunt. After aggressive parents went too far in making sure their child got the most eggs, Peter Monson, ASUU’s director of the Non-Traditional Student Board, decided to make a few changes.
Monson, a third-year graduate student in economics and Chinese, said doing the event this way made it “more fair.” It now includes a dart game, mini-bowling, crafts, face painting and an egg toss, among other things.
The Easter Bunny visited for half of the event, where children were able to enjoy his company — or not. Most kids were excited to take pictures with him, a few were frightened and a small group showed signs of tears in the making.
The event is organized to help students on campus with families feel more included. Several sororities, student housing and ASUU’s Childcare Program were there to help with the event and table.
Alpha Chi Omega set up a fishing for ducks game where children used nets and attempted to catch rubber ducks. After they caught one, they got a ticket and a piece of candy.
Taylor Buono, a sophomore in business, Emily Lowe, a freshman in modern dance and Jill Bauer, a freshman in musical theatre, said the sorority was at the event from the beginning with members taking different shifts. Despite being splashed more than a few times, they described the event and kids as “so cute,” “so precious” and “so much fun.”
ASUU’s Childcare Program tabled for children to do arts and crafts. Originally they provided brown paper bags for the children to decorate before filling it with candy. After the bags ran out, kids had fun letting their imaginations take off drawing and coloring pictures.
Drew Johnson, a graduate student in mathematics, and his wife came with their kids Zander and Adelyn. They said they attended the event later to beat the craziness.
“It was nice to come after the crowds,” Johnson said.
Whitney Myers, a senior in elementary education, brought her son Donivan. They spent their time making puppets.
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