Students kicked off the school year in a big way last week by attempting to conquer a world record.
Participants of the Bubblegum Blast hoped to beat the record for the most people to blow a bubble at one time in the Guinness Book of World Records. The world record attempt took place Thursday, Sept. 6 in the North Quad. The Center for Leadership, Activities and Career Services (CLACS) organized the event involving all things bubbles. Students and community members competed in bubble-themed games and received prizes while enjoying music from both a live artist and a DJ.
“We kind of just thought something small and simple that could be achieved by everyone, and so we were thinking that if it was open to the community, that it would be achievable that way as well,” Ferris nursing junior and CLACS Student Coordinator Caitlin Dorton said.
According to the Ferris website, the current record was reached July 11, 2018 in Trenton, New Jersey at the Eastern League All-Star Game with 881 participants. Dorton helped plan, organize and secure volunteers for the event, which included the help of the Ferris men’s rugby team.
“The university wanted something to get freshmen fired up for the school year and just a way to build on relationships while they’re here, so we just kind of decided we wanted to make a new tradition at Ferris,” Dorton said.
The attempt was the first in a new tradition of world record challenges, which students hope to continue annually.
“I like that it’s a diverse group of people. You could meet people that you wouldn’t normally meet because you don’t know who’s going to show up. It’s just kind of a random assembly of people,” Ferris music and entertainment business freshman Nicole Hollinsky said. “I think eventually, if you make it a tradition, eventually it’s going to get bigger, so maybe then we could actually break a world record, even if this one doesn’t.”
Ferris finance freshman Grace Fletcher said the event helped bring students together in a fun way.
“I think it’s fun. It kind of brings people together and kind of gives you a feeling that you can change the world, but you know, in a goofy way,” Fletcher said. “I think it’s a cool idea to just attempt something that might last forever, or at least a really long time until somebody else comes along and breaks it.”
According to Dorton, the participants were counted with a clicker, but they were unsure of the exact number.
The results of the world record challenge have yet to be tallied.