‘Build-a-Bo’ builds community (and plushes)

During a chilly but bright New Mexican afternoon, cuddly plush animals spread holiday cheer as students lined up through the University of New Mexico Student Union Building to take part in this year’s “Build-a-Bo” event.

A pun on “Build-a-Bear,” the “Build-a-Bo” event provided free empty plushies, cotton stuffing and an animal sized New Mexico themed t-shirt to students, turning the SUB into a whimsical workshop. To design their plush, students picked from snow leopards, reindeer, snow men, arctic foxes, penguins, snowy owls and, of course, the titular wolf: “Bo.” Participation was free while supplies lasted for those with student ID. The Dec. 2 event is the second year the event has been hosted by the SUB.

The event also featured festive holiday music and a video of a crackling fireplace to create a festive, cozy atmosphere.

“Build-a-Bo” gave over 300 plushes homes to more than 300 participants, Executive Director of Associated Students at UNM, Student Special Events Karis Daskalos said.The event was sponsored by the SUB, who sourced the plushes form The Bear Factory, a toy company that provides stuffed animals and polyfill made from recycled materials. 

Angel Serrano, assistant director of ASUNM SSE, said that “Build-a-Bo” offers a chance for students to de-stress around “dead week,” the time between Thanksgiving and finals week.

“With students being stressed, we thought it would be a fun way to bring student spirits up,” Serrano said. “I’m hoping that students will be able to go into finals week, as they’re studying during dead week, and just feel better.”

Serrano made a snowman, and Daskalos made an animal that will stay in the ASUNM office, they said.

Cadence Olander, who brought to life a plush snowy owl, attended the event out of a love for plushies and enjoyed the event as a community-building experience, they said. 

“It’s fun, it’s loud, but I figured it was gonna be that way. Getting to just talk to other people and figure out why they chose theirs as fun too, so, it’s a great community thing,” Olander said.

Daskalos said that, due to the event’s popularity with students, SSE hopes to host another “Build-a-Bo” in the Spring semester.

“This event is loved every year, our goal is to maybe do this event twice this year, so that we can get more people in,” Daskalos said.

Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo