Safe campus activities have taken on a new look this fall with Cardy’s Pop-Up Events, the brainchild of a group of staff working hard to make sure students have fun.  

“We knew our students would still need to build a sense of pride, excitement, kindness and joy about going to class under different circumstances. This is when Cardy’s Pop-Up Events was created,” said Matthew D’Oyly, director of events and conferences. 

Cardy’s Pop-Up Events will offer a variety of programs and activities throughout the year. Partners like our campus food service provider, Parkhurst Dining, and local restaurants have signed-on for food giveaways. We also have planned some free giveaways for students. 

So far some of our Cardy’s Pop-Up Events have included: 

• Donuts with President Comerford. 
• Free pizza slices from Jet’s Pizza, hosted by the Otterbein athletic coaching staff.  
• Labor Day “to-go” picnic lunch for employees and students. 

Future events include special guests, tie-dying face coverings, sidewalk chalk competitions and other fall fun. 

“Cardy’s Pop-Up events are opportunities to engage our students in unexpected ways and reward them for staying committed to all the parameters they are being asked to manage to this academic year,” said Dawn Stewart, vice president for student affairs. 

Offices and academic departments across campus will be hosting events, including Residence Life, Student Involvement, Events and Conferences, Alumni Relations, Cardinal Athletics, The Point, President’s Office, Counseling Center, Student Affairs and Institutional Advancement. Academic Departments will also be helping with events — so far the Departments of Art and Art History, Philosophy and Chemistry have events planned. 

In addition to Cardy’s Pop-Up Events, students can also participate in Cardy’s Games. These outdoor games include life-sized Connect Four, ladder ball, cornhole, croquet, kan jam, spike ball and more. These games are available outside residence halls, in the main academic quad of campus and behind the Campus Center.  

“We’re hopeful that these events and games are fun for our students and create positive opportunities in which we can recognize their efforts and allow them to still interact with each other safely,” said Stewart. 

And if students just want to hang out outside, Otterbein ordered 75 new white Adirondack chairs from Uptown Westerville business Amish Originals. These chairs were added to the ones gifted by Otterbein President Emeritus Kathy Krendl H’18 and her husband, Richard Gilbert H’18, in 2015.  

It is always Otterbein’s goal to create a welcoming campus environment, and with the addition of Cardy’s Pop-Up Events, Cardy’s Games and the new Adirondack chairs, we hope you will agree it is just as welcoming as before!  

Make sure to follow Otterbein on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information on when and where the next Cardy’s Pop-Up Event will happen.