Stop Day: New alternative provided, still free day for students

Kelsey Tegtmeier
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 1

Students across Doane campus look forward to that special day in spring when classes are cancelled, homework is put aside and they are granted a day of freedom.
Stop Day has been a Doane tradition for at least fifty years, but it has gone through many changes over they years.
“Stop Day has had many different purposes throughout the years. It’s been a day of community service, to a unstructured free-day, to what it is now,” said Kelly Garvey, former Student Congress president.
President Brown said he remembered his own Stop Days as off-campus events with friends.
Students would make plans months in advance to visit nearby lakes, watch a movie in Lincoln or even take a trip to Omaha, Brown said.
The Stop Day announcement was made early in the morning over the dorm loud speakers.
The day’s schedule was decided solely by the students’ plans; the only restriction was that women were required back at their dorms by 1 a.m.
Today, Stop Day is full of activities planned by Student Congress.
The number of students participating has grown since Brown’s days as a student and he says that StuCo is conscious that size matters.
“My expectation is that everyone has a good, safe time,” Brown said.
Student Congress is currently making plans to improve the day for students, said StuCo Vice President Natalie Nelsen.
“It (Stop Day) just got a little out of hand last year and now is the time to rein it in so that it doesn’t keep escalating,” Nelsen said.
According to an e-mail sent out by StuCo President Jimmy Feeney, changes will be made to the structure and schedule of Stop Day.
“I don’t feel that Stop Day in itself needs to be changed. I think there are aspects of Stop Day that could be improved,” Feeney said.
The e-mail introduced an alternative activity for those not wanting to participate in Stop Day. The Hansen Leadership Program will sponsor a day of service learning for those interested in giving back to the community.
Golf, volleyball, tug-of-war, softball, mini-bike races and horseshoes are some of the activities planned for students to participate in. The Doane Idol contest will be earlier in the day and StuCo must approve all skits, said Nelsen.
StuCo will place more trash cans throughout the grounds and they hope to hire a security guard for the day, Feeney said.
Student Congress is considering supplying breakfast for students and changing the menu for lunch and supper.
Hamburgers grilled by The Food Guys may be on the menu for lunch, with pizza and sub sandwiches served in the evening, Nelson said.
“I am looking forward to an amazing Stop Day ’04 and hope the students will act responsibly so it can be a positive experience for everyone,” Feeney said.