RIT students can beat the blahs during FreezeFest

Ice skating, downhill skiing, hot chocolate, movies, and more are planned for this year’s 13-day FreezeFest, beginning Tuesday through Feb. 12.

Since its inception in 2010, FreezeFest has brought students and the RIT community together for an assortment of winter-themed programs and events. Most of the events are not dependent upon snowy days, which happen to be sparse this winter in Rochester.

“The College Activities Board has been hard at work to plan FreezeFest, and we hope students will get out of their igloos to engage in some fun activities with other RIT students,” said Ben Ocamb, CAB’s director and a fifth-year industrial engineering major from Quakertown, Pa. “It’s a chance to celebrate the beginning of a new semester, meet new friends, and enjoy the winter weather together.”

Cold weather is perfect for an ice sculpture, which will be carved along the Quarter Mile outside Clark Gym and Campus Center.

And while some events, such as a ski outing to Bristol Mountain, already have a waiting list, there are plenty of other activities scheduled, including snow tubing. In its second year, Ovation: RIT Performing Arts Showcase will feature 16 performances competing for cash prizes. The competition will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday in Ingle Auditorium.

Several sporting events are also in the lineup, including men’s and women’s hockey and basketball and a track and field competition.

Students will also have a chance to snag free swag at FreezeFest events, including winter hats, mugs, and pajama bottoms.

Events kick off on Tuesday with Cozy Corner, sponsored by New Student Orientation. Students can relax with hot chocolate, crafts, and a massage in the Fireside Lounge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All events, unless otherwise mentioned, are free and open to RIT students. Advance registration is encouraged on the FreezeFest website.

Other scheduled events include:

Wednesday, Feb. 1

• 11 a.m.-3 p.m. FreezeFest & Friends. Take a photo with Roarie, FreezeFest’s white Bengal tiger mascot. Student Alumni Union lobby.
• Noon-2 p.m. Black Heritage Month Kickoff. Wear Your Crown! Celebrate and acknowledge the history of Black hair. Black-identified staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to model their hair in a way that showcases their personality and/or unique ethnic group styles. Fireside Lounge.

Thursday, Feb. 2

• 4-7 p.m. Cookies with CAB. Free cookies to decorate and eat, hot chocolate, and tea will be available. Fireside Lounge.
• 8 p.m. “I Love Female Orgasm,” a program featuring sex education and women’s empowerment that features plenty of laughter, will be held in Ingle Auditorium. The program, inclusive of people of all genders, gender identities, and sexual orientations, is a collaborative effort hosted by the Center for Campus Life.

Friday, Feb. 3

• Noon-1:30 p.m. Spiritual and Religious Symbols from Around the World. Enjoy some food while learning about religious symbols and iconography with Spirituality and Religious Life in the Fireside Lounge.
• 6-8 p.m. Ovation: Performing Arts Showcase. Prize money will be awarded to the top performance in each category and to an overall winner of the showcase. Ingle Auditorium.

Saturday, Feb. 4

• 4-7 p.m. Winter Kickback. Hot chocolate, donuts, and pretzels will be available, along with VR games, a photo booth, an oxygen bar, bowling, miniature golf, and Dance Revolution. Presented by the College Activities Board in the Gordon Field House.
• 5-8 p.m. MGC Open Mic Night. Students show off their skills for a night of singing, dancing, slam poetry, and more in the Fireside Lounge. Advanced sign-up encouraged.

Monday, Feb. 6

• 12:30-2 p.m. Bow Wow Wellness. De-stress with therapy dogs in the Fireside Lounge.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

• 11 a.m.-3 p.m. S’Mores Fun with Campus Life. Come to the Sentinel for a s’more or two, provided by Campus Life staff.
• 5-7 p.m. RIT Film Premiere: Dear Eleanor. Year One Programs presents a Diversity Theater double feature of Brick by Brick and the premiere of its sequel, Dear Eleanor. Reception to follow. MAGIC Spell Studios, Wegmans Theater.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

• 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Roc IT Student Health and Wellness Fair. Explore health and wellness resources available on campus and throughout the Rochester community in the Fireside Lounge.
• 9-10 p.m. No Voice Zone. Learn some American Sign Language and a bit about deaf culture. All levels welcomed. Student Development Center, Room 1300/1310.

Thursday, Feb. 9

• 6-11 p.m. Snow Tubing, presented by Representative Student Organizations. Enjoy a night of snow tubing at the Links at Greystone. Registration required.
• 9-11:30 p.m. Movie: Snowpiercer (2013) in Ingle Auditorium. A failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer train that travels around the globe.

Friday, Feb. 10

• 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Into the ROC, Valentine’s Day party at CP Rochester.
• 6-9 p.m. Chocolate on Ice, ice skating at the Gene Polisseni Center. Bring or rent skates. Admission is $3 which includes skate rental, or bring three non-perishable food items per person for RIT’s FoodShare program. Reservations taken the night of the event.
• 7:45 p.m.-midnight: Into the ROC: College Night at Strong National Museum of Play. The popular College Night at the Strong National Museum of Play returns this semester, featuring electronic games, pinball machines, and high-adventure ropes and Skyline Climb. $10 in advance, or $12 at the door. Buses will run continually from The Sentinel starting at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11

• 2 and 4 p.m. Women’s basketball and men’s basketball. Celebrate graduating athletes during Senior Day, as the Tigers take on Union College in Clark Gym.
• 7-10 p.m. Roarie’s Night Out. Roarie hosts a night of fun, featuring games and live music. Dress to impress in the Davis Room.

 Sunday, Feb. 12

• 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Learn to Ski. Try the slopes at Bristol Mountain, just south of Rochester. Transportation, boots, skis or snowboards are included in the $20 ticket price. Helmets are required and may be rented for an additional $5. (Waiting List)

In addition to these events, Margaret’s House will be collecting food for RIT FoodShare from Feb. 1-10 in conjunction with FreezeFest. Margaret’s House will also be highlighting themes of kindness, caring, community, and hunger in their classrooms.