By Connor Kay – Staff Writer

Following the new year, the start of the semester, and the return of students to campus there is an event held by the BU SRC known as Survive the Gait. Survive the Gait offers students the chance to receive fully paid tuition for the semester (at the Québec rate), which encourages students to participate in a series of challenges in an intense, yet friendly competition. Having an inclusive competition among peers allows people to play competitively while also bonding and making friends. 

The process is much like the play style of the hit TV show Survivor, making for a large and memorable experience in the small setting of the Gait. Survive the Gait employs many features that are common in high production value game shows, which contrasts the small town nature of Bishop’s event. This makes it unique and entertaining especially when making notice of the compact setting yet large stakes of play. Holding challenges within the isolated play area of the Gait poses its limitations, and students who choose to attend the Gait from Jan. 21-28 will have an opportunity to see what unique challenges await participants.

Events like Survive the Gait held by the SRC are what attract students to become even further included in Bishop’s community, once seeing the carefully planned events the school has to offer. A benefit of increasing the number of on-campus activities similar to Survive the Gait and making them available for students is that students can safely get out of their comfort zone and fully experience Bishop’s as it is meant to be. 

In a conversation concerning campus events, the group came to an agreement that having more events throughout the year may also result in higher student approval rates and also satisfaction scores. Also, there has been an increasing level of involvement from students since the end of COVID-19 restrictions, inviting such events. These events will make for a lively and inclusive student-driven campus that would only build Bishop’s reputation for community engagement.