Bermuda Shorts Day returns to U of C campus
By Saima Asad, April 4 2017 —
What better way to celebrate the last day of classes than not show up to any of them?
Bermuda Shorts Day will invade the University of Calgary campus once again on April 12. The annual end-of-year celebration will take over Lot 32 from 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Students’ Union vice-president student life Patrick Ma said the musical lineup sets this year’s BSD apart.
“We’ve got Burchill, we’ve got Port Juvee, Beach Season, [Ricca] Razor Sharp and of course, Small Town DJs,” Ma said. “All really great acts — Calgary locals [and some] up and coming big names.”
Last year, 8,500 students attended BSD // Courtesy Gene Baines
Ma said most students have reacted positively to the music selection, but he wanted to address those who have criticized the lineup.
“There’s always sort of the ‘why not bring Drake or Future?’” Ma said. “To that I say, ‘we like to keep it Calgary-local.’ We like to showcase the local community here in Calgary.”
In addition to the usual assorted alcoholic beverage options, students will also be able to punish their bodies with an unhealthy selection of food trucks. This year’s lineup includes Calgary Mini Donuts, Taiko Taco, Burger320, Happy Truck and Chicken Waffles.
Ma said another difference this year is the addition of non-alcoholic beverages to the bar menu. He said the SU has expanded the number of onsite medical personnel.
Only U of C students are allowed to attend BSD. The SU will distribute 10,000 wristbands to students with a valid UCID in the MacHall north courtyard from 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. from April 6–11. Last year, about 8,500 students attended BSD.
Students looking for a more wholesome way to skip class can attend the UCalgaryStrong festival in the Jack Simpson Gymnasium on the same day from
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Free coffee and Jelly Modern Donuts will be available at 11:00 a.m. The festival will include live music, a virtual reality experience and an inflatable obstacle course.
UCalgaryStrong originated in September 2014 following the murders of five Calgary post-secondary students at a house party in Brentwood on the last day of classes. The festival was designed to provide a sober alternative to BSD and commemorate the five lives lost.
Ma encourages students to attend both events this year and enjoy their last day of classes.
“It’s an honour and privilege as [vice-president student life] to be overseeing BSD this year and to make sure students are having as much fun as possible on the last day of classes,” he said.
BSD started in 1960, when U of C student and Gauntlet editor Alan Arthur bought his first pair of Bermuda shorts. Arthur wrote a message on the main hall blackboard stating that everyone should show up wearing Bermuda shorts to celebrate spring. Many of the university’s students did and a tradition was born.
BSD is now an SU-sanctioned event and has become one of the U of C’s most popular traditions.