Nathan Howard ’25

News Editor

On Saturday, September 10, 2022, the College of the Holy Cross held its annual Co-Curricular Extravaganza in the Hart Center Arena of the Luth Athletic Complex. As in years prior, the Co-Curricular Extravaganza was sponsored by Holy Cross Athletics and hosted by The Purple Key Society, a service organization that “fosters school spirit, loyalty, and enthusiasm in the activities and goals of the College.” The Co-Curricular Extravaganza was a great opportunity for members of the new freshman class and returning students to explore various passions and interests by joining any of the 100+ clubs and organizations the College offers. 

In years prior, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Co-Curricular Extravaganza to be held outside in the Hoval with tables spread six feet apart. As the College has shifted to an endemic mindset for the 2022 fall semester, many of the College’s events are beginning to resemble those seen in pre-pandemic operations. Because of this, the Co-Curricular Extravaganza was able to be held inside the Hart Center Arena of the Luth Athletic Complex. The Hart Center Arena is large enough to seat over 3,500 spectators during the College’s basketball and volleyball games. For the Co-Curricular Extravaganza, the use of the Hart Center Arena proved to be a success as all 100+ clubs and organizations were able to share their goals and missions with attendees and recruit new members from the College’s largest freshman class in history.

In addition to the College’s student-run clubs and organizations present at the Co-Curricular Extravaganza, the College invited food trucks and a balloon artist to entertain students while they walked through the Hart Center Arena. Leaders of the Office of Student Involvement also raffled off different prizes to both students walking through as well as club leaders throughout the evening. Furthermore, the College also displayed a live stream of the Holy Cross v. University of Buffalo football game starting at 6:00 pm. 

Associate Director of Student Involvement, Caitlin MacNeil described the Co-Curricular Extravaganza as “The start of involvement for the 2022-2023 academic year.” MacNeil continued by explaining that the event allows Holy Cross students “to be more involved on campus, gain valuable leadership experience, and look for ways to feel more connected to the Holy Cross community.” At the Co-Curricular Extravaganza, there were a variety of different clubs and organizations available to students who were interested. There were academic organizations, including the College’s Moot Court team, Pre-Nurse Practitioner Club, and Women In Economics, campus service organizations, including The Purple Key Society, and the Student Government Association, media organizations, including The Spire, multicultural organizations, including the Black Student Union, Pride, and Feminist Forum, as well as special interest organizations, including the College Democrats, College Republicans, and the American Sign Language Club. These are just a few of the more than 100 clubs and organizations present at the Co-Curricular Extravaganza, including various club sports, peer education organizations, performing arts organizations, religious organizations, philanthropic organizations, and business organizations. The large freshman class benefited all of these organizations, who received many new members deeply interested in being involved at Holy Cross.