By Valentina Toro
Features Editor
Students packed the Adanti Student Center Ballroom on Jan. 22 for Squid Games: Season Three, a Week of Welcome event that brought together 70 players for an evening of competition and campus connection.
Inspired by the popular Netflix series, the event featured a series of fast-paced games — including Time’s Up, Marbles, Swap Meet, Getting Dicey, Legos, White Tee and The Key to Victory — with participants advancing through rounds for a chance to win a $400 gift card.
Each round eliminated players until only a small group remained, building anticipation as the competition moved forward.
“Events like this make it easier for students to meet people,” Eric Lacharity, the associate director of Student Involvement & Leadership Development, said. “We love when students connect, and events like this are a pretty easy way to make that happen.”
As the night progressed, the crowd grew louder, particularly during the final round, when the two remaining competitors examined a set of keys to determine the winner.
The challenge required careful observation and quick decision-making.
After advancing through each round, nursing major Serena Newnham, a freshman, secured the win and the $400 prize.
“It was really close, and I was just looking at the keys and trying to figure out which ones stood out to me,” Newnham said. “I went with my gut.”
While the final round proved intense, Newnham said the marbles game stood out as the most challenging part of the competition; she said staying calm and focused helped her advance through each stage of the game as rounds became more competitive.
“I felt pretty confident going in, but the marbles round definitely tested me the most,” Newnham said. “You really had to think through every move.”
Despite the pressure, Newnham said the experience was rewarding, and she plans to put the prize money toward savings. She said the mix of strategy and luck made each round feel unpredictable, which added to the excitement of competing.
Although the prize added excitement, organizers said the primary goal of the event extended beyond winning.
Events like Squid Games encourage students to step outside their residence halls, engage with campus life and build connections early in the semester.
Lacharity said Week of Welcome programs are designed to give students interactive ways to get involved and meet people early in the semester.
Hosting an event of this scale, however, comes with challenges. Because of the nature of the games, participation was capped at 100 students, requiring organizers to turn some students away despite high interest. Capacity limits are set to keep the games running smoothly and safely, Lacharity said.
“We often have to turn people away,” Lacharity said. “That’s one of the harder parts, but it also shows how much interest there is.”
Organizers said they hope to continue offering similar events throughout the semester to give more students opportunities to participate and feel involved on campus.
“Students pay tuition dollars and activity fees for events like this,” Lacharity said. “We want them to participate, be involved and make the most of their experience here.”
