by Tamara Gaskill
Daily Lobo
There doesn't need to be a reason to get ice cream.
That's what UNM President Louis Caldera said Monday about the ice cream social held on the lawn of the University House.
"We always have ice cream on the first day of school," he said. "It's kind of a fun tradition."
The event kicked off Welcome Back Days - an annual event held by UNM groups and departments to usher in the school year.
Cold Stone Creamery donated 90 ice cream cakes for the social, which came out to about 4,500 slices.
University administrators joined Caldera in handing out the free cake, which came in cookie dough, red velvet strawberry and chocolate.
Eliseo "Cheo" Torres, vice president of student affairs, said handing out the cake was a nice way to meet students.
"It's a way to socialize," he said. "A lot of the freshmen are nervous in their first year. UNM is a big community."
Juniors Kristina Schmidt and Nita Day were among the hundreds of students who turned out for the event.
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Schmidt and Day, like other students, found seats in the shade to enjoy their treats and talk with friends.
"I love getting free stuff," Schmidt said. Both said they had visited the line twice.
In 15 minutes, Torres said he already served 30 people.
"We've fed a lot of folks," he said.
Susan McKinsey, director of strategic communications at UNM, said the most popular flavor was chocolate, but said everyone was satisfied.
"There were no people out there demanding more ice cream," she said.
McKinsey said she and the rest of the volunteers were handing out the cake until after 1 p.m.
"We went through all of it," she said. "We kept it going until the bitter end."
Students weren't the only ones drawn to the offers of free ice cream cake.
Brian Aragon, a physical plant employee, got some free ice cream, along with a few co-workers. He said he liked the idea of administrators handing out the ice cream.
"I think it's cool," he said. "Make them work."
Aragon said he got a chance to mingle with students and said most seemed excited to be back.
"It's cool in the beginning before studying kicks in," he said.
Other administrators such as Curt Porter, associate vice president of budget, planning and analysis; Breda Bova, special assistant to the president; and Walt Miller, director of the SUB were also donating their time handing out cake.
Free food will be offered as part of Welcome Back Days throughout the week.
Aragon said he was looking forward to taking advantage of the offers.
"I don't have to bring my lunch this week," he said.