On Friday, October 12, the University of Oregon and the City of Eugene co-hosted the first ever EUGfun! Campus Block Party to welcome community members to campus and encourage students who live off-campus to be good neighbors.

The family-friendly block party featured live music by local acts Soul Vibrator and Ratie and Friends. UO President Michael H. Schill and Eugene mayor Lucy Vinis addressed the crowd with a welcome message, as did Associated Students of the University of Oregon president Maria Gallegos-Chacon. Attendees enjoyed raffles and giveaways, a beer garden, and activities including an arts and crafts section where party-goers could make their own prints or color in a picture.

The event also included the soft launch of the Food Security Task Force’s 2018-2019 initiatives, which include a Ducks Feeding Ducks program, education about SNAP benefits, and other initiatives funded by President Schill. The Task Force’s goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding food insecurity, increase the resources available to students who may be experiencing hunger, and spread the word about the resources that already exist.

Since the block party took place during the UO Board Summit, Duck Preview, the first-ever Black Alumni Reunion, and the night before a home football game, there were hundreds of visitors from out of town who got a taste of what UO and Eugene have to offer. Kids played with UO Frisbees, attendees took pictures with The Duck, and Onyx the UOPD police dog received pets from students and community members alike on his day off.

The event extended the biannual ASUO Street Faire, so patrons could grab a bite to eat from local food carts. The Daily Emerald posted a video recapping the Street Faire and the EUGfun! Campus block party. The event marked the first of what will hopefully become an annual tradition bringing students and the community together.