This week, BJU has harkened back to its Gold Rush Daze tradition with Bruin Daze: GOLDRUSH 2021.
Gold Rush Daze, originally School Daze, was a one-day event designed to unify the student body through competitive activities. Every four years beginning in 1977, the student body was divided into red and blue — and sometimes green — teams. Classes were canceled for a day of breakfast in bed, team parades, afternoon games, the Faculty Body show, a singspiration and fireworks.
In 2017 Gold Rush Daze morphed into Bruin Daze, a week of competition and activities held every two years. To raise spirit for the 2021 competition, the SLC emphasized the 44-year history of the event with the GOLDRUSH title, retro team T-shirts and a promotional video composed of clips from past Gold Rush Dazes.
Competitive and Casual Activities
Each day of the week had at least one Bruin Daze perk, some of which offered opportunities for team points. Activities included
- A movie night
- A scavenger hunt
- A game of dodgeball
- A blood drive
- Jean days
- Free breakfast
- Late skate
- Greek dinner and games followed by fireworks
Student leaders also decided to host their own spin on the American business reality TV series Shark Tank. Students submitted legitimate business ideas, and three red team members and three blue team members were chosen to pitch their ideas. Real “sharks” awarded students points for their team as well as money for their business. The audience was also able to earn points from activities during breaks.
“A lot of people really like Shark Tank anyway — or at least like a lot of my friends do. I’m in business,” senior Taylor Holland said. “It’s something that’s really different, and it’s really cool to come out and see business ideas that your peers are coming up with.”
Additionally, Bruin Daze maintained its spiritual emphasis with a time of prayer and worship.
As the Student Leadership Council event coordinator, Holland said the time spent planning was worth the effort. “I really love coordinating enough details behind the scenes so that when people actually get to the events, it runs smoothly and they have a fun and enjoyable time,” she said.
Bruin Daze Community Outreach
Part of the Bruin Daze competition included collecting canned goods and household items for Daily Bread Ministries, a soup kitchen in Greer. The team that gathered the most items won points.
“Our contribution to Daily Bread Ministries will provide food for hundreds of people just in the next month,” Community Service Council director Abbie Rocha said. “We include a food drive because it is a fun addition that adds an extra boost to the competition as well as helping students reach beyond themselves.”
