Erika_Eddy
TomasVLujan
culture@dailylobo.com
Not a long time ago, or even in a galaxy far, far away, the Student Activities Center organized a Star Wars Day event on campus.
The event, dubbed “Revenge of the Sixth,” is in its fourth year at UNM. The unofficial national holiday, usually held on May 4 to coincide with the play on words “May the fourth be with you,” has changed this year because May 4 is during the weekend.
The “May the fourth be with you” holiday is gaining steam around the country, said Ryan Lindquist, event organizer and associate director of the Student Activities Center.
“We thought there would be students interested in doing this, especially as an opportunity to blow off steam before finals,” he said.
Marcos Romero, a junior business administration major, said he has attended the event in previous years.
Romero hasn’t watched the movies, but he said the excitement of watching the Star Wars fanatics is enough of a draw for him to attend.
“It’s a nice little break from reality, especially during finals week,” he said.
The event will include free food, drinks and giveaways from participating SUB restaurants. Students can decorate their own “Wookie cookies,” order a “Sobe-Wan Kenobi” or “Java the Hutt” from the Mos Eisley Cantina and create Star Wars-themed crafts. The New Mexico Lego Users Group will have Star Wars themed Lego creations on display as well.
Krista Marrs, a junior business administration major, said she always enjoys the event.
“They have all of the characters in costume and you can take pictures,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun and embraces students coming together to have a good time.”
A big fan of the saga since childhood, Marrs remembers watching the movies with her family at the drive-in theatre in Carlsbad. She said watching the movies now is nostalgic.
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Along with special Star Wars-themed menu items, students will also be able to play video games and take photographs with their favorite Star Wars characters.
The 501st Legion, an all-volunteer costuming organization, will attend the event in full costume, according to 501st.com. The Legion is throwing everything fans thought they knew about the Empire out the window: Their Stormtroopers, Bounty Hunters and Sith Lords act conspicuously out-of-character and wear accessories that could hardly be defined as standard Imperial issue.
Lindquist said the first event, held in 2011, began because the employees of the SAC are Star Wars fans.
“We’re all Star Wars fans first; after that it’s about being able to provide an opportunity for students to decompress before finals,” Lindquist said.
Marisa Martinez, a senior psychology major, said she has grown to love Star Wars just from working at the SAC.
Setting up the event is a lot of hard work, she said, but the end result is worth it.
“College is a lot more than just going to class,” Martinez said. “It’s a lot more enjoyable if you participate and just enjoy it every once in a while.”
Revenge of the Sixth happens today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Building atrium.
Revenge of the Sixth
Today, 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
SUB Atrium
Free and family-friendly
