WKU News

On Wednesday, February 3, from 3:00-4:00 p.m., the WKU Department of English hosted a Welcome Back Fire Bowl for students and faculty. The event was a socially-distanced opportunity to reconnect with people in-person while roasting marshmallows and staying warm.

In previous semesters, the English Department enjoyed holding social gatherings with snacks available. Students and faculty cherished these events and considered the sense of community the events invoked a staple of the department. Department Head Dr. Alison Langdon wished to revive this community tradition after months of mostly virtual meetings, while maintaining social distancing and food safety guidelines.

Moving people outside and keeping them warm with fire pits was a successful solution. Faculty set up three fire bowls outside the front of Cherry Hall. They obtained three-foot roasting sticks so that people could stand apart, and they divided the marshmallows into individual bags.

Around twenty students and faculty members came to the Fire Bowl. They shared laughs and fond memories and discussed courses and projects. Of course, attendees also enjoyed many marshmallows, of which some managed to not catch flame.

Senior Fallon Russell attended the Fire Bowl and shared her thoughts on the event. She said, “I really enjoyed getting to have some safe face-to-face interaction within the English Department. I was able to catch up with friends and professors that I don't get to see in class this semester. One of the things I miss the most about being in Cherry Hall is stopping to chat in the hallways before and after class, so it was refreshing to have casual conversations and see familiar faces. Plus, roasting marshmallows was fun too! I'm thankful that the department hosted this event to let people gather in a safe and creative way.”