Homecoming luau brings students, alums together

Alumni, faculty, and students gathered on Friday to party at the fourth annual Alumni Luau in the OUC ballroom.

For the past four years, the luau has been the place for alumni to gather and mingle in a fun environment and reminisce about old classes and friends.

Laura Brandt, director of alumni relations, and Richard Joyce, associate professor, hosted the event with help from the Homecoming Committee.
Brandt, the organizer of the luau, has been in charge of alumni events for the past four years and has taken great pride in hosting activities and handling alumni public relations for CSU-Pueblo.

The luau marked the last event of homecoming week, which Brandt had organized in its entirety.

“Laura Brandt is the best damn Alumni Director that you’ll find anywhere, including universities that are bigger and better,” Joyce said.

Brandt and Joyce are not only alumni organizers, but they are alumni as well.

“We have a wonderful school here. I went here for six years. I got two degrees here. I love this school.” Brandt said.

This is the first year that the Luau has been held on campus and the OUC ballroom was decorated in streamers, paper pineapples, hula girls and inflatable tiki totem poles to give it that Hawaiian flavor.

The event has previously been held at the Ramada Inn.

Both Brandt and Joyce wore Hawaiian shirts and pith helmets to add to the atmosphere. Attendants were encouraged to dress up as well.

Dancing was a big part of the event and attendant’s line danced, did the electric slide, hustled and danced the macarena all night long to music provided by DJ Haze of Rev. 89.

The luau was host to several contests as well, a limbo dance off and a putting challenge
The putting challenge, which consisted of three rounds throughout the night, ended in a tie. The winning alumni received identical pink flamingos as trophies.

The winner of the limbo contest was Abbey Esquibel, a former student of CSU-Pueblo. She received an ornate tiki mask as her prize, which was passed down to her by the winner of last year’s limbo contest, Murial “Magnificent” Cargile.

Another popular event was the “thong gong”. When Joyce would walk up and interview someone over the loudspeaker, a cowbell would be rung randomly.
When this happened, Joyce would present a thong, as a prize of course, not his personal pair, to whoever he was interviewing, much to their joy or embarrassment.

Several door prizes were given away to attendants with lucky tickets, and prizes included Pueblo salsa, pith helmets, floral centerpieces, torches and alumni key chains.

Food was provided by Chartwells catering and included roast pork, sweet and sour chicken, pineapple and mango salsa, pineapple upside-down cake, and a variety of crackers, cheese and bread.

A variety of refreshments were also available, including soda, beer and wine.

Though this was the first year currently enrolled students were allowed to attend, both Brandt and Joyce were slightly disappointed by the turn out.

“It’s hard to get alumni to come back, so I invited students too,” Brandt said. “I want students and alumni together.”

Joyce said he had hoped for about 30 more alumni to show up.

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