by Michael Montalvo
Daily Lobo
UNM Recreational Services celebrated its 50th birthday under a full moon Tuesday.
About 300 students showed up on Johnson Field to enjoy free food and reggae music.
"Play hard in college and have fun," said Laura Montoya, coordinator of Recreational Services. "That's part of the whole
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experience."
Garcia's Kitchen provided the free food, which seemed to be the biggest draw at the event.
"I told them we wanted food," Montoya said. "It's the only way the students would come."
Student Jennifer Newton agreed with Montoya.
"Wherever there is free food, there are college students,"
she said.
Newton said she was surprised by the amount of people that
were there.
"I'm kind of liking college right now," Newton said. "This is
pretty neat."
Student Jessica Friedman brought her books to study for a test and spread them out on the grass next to a plate of food.
Despite her test, Friedman said she didn't want to miss out on the event.
"The free food is yummy, and the music is good," she said.
Since Recreational Services was established in the '50s, Montoya decided to bring back some of the old games for the event, such as hula-hoop contests and an inflatable Twister board.
"In 1957, the facility was state of the art," Montoya said. "But at five o'clock, it would shut down, and the students couldn't use it."
In response to student complaints, Armond Seidler, then chairman of the physical education department, did something about it, Montoya said. Seidler asked UNM president Tom Popejoy for permission to start a recreation program and received $10,000 to start it.
The natatorium inside Johnson Center is named after Seidler.
Recreational Services will turn 50 in a few more weeks, but the birthday bash was thrown in advance to coincide with homecoming, Montoya said.
"It's homecoming week, and we wanted to tie this in with everything else happening on campus," she said. "Our official birthday is the first week of October."
