On Sept. 1 at 3 p.m., Kean students gathered on the Miron Student Center (MSC) Patio to attend the Cougar Kick Off: Saddle Up event organized by Kean P.U.L.S.E.

The MSC Patio is located in the center of Kean’s campus and provides students with comfortable seating areas, and a beautiful view of their surroundings. Popular songs played by the DJ began to grasp the attention of students that were walking by and dozens of students started to line up to check into the event and take a trip into the wild west aesthetic.

As party favors, students were given cowboy hats, pillows to personalize their dorms, and food. Students participated in activities such as a ring toss, a photo booth, sand games, and the main attraction: a mechanical bull. 

Junior Stacy Acheampong revealed that she enjoyed the theme of the event and that the mechanical bull was quite difficult to ride. 

“Energetic,” is the word Acheampong used to describe the ambiance of the festivity.

Across the MSC Patio, many students were dancing to the tunes provided by the DJ, chatting with one another, and visiting game booths hosted by members of the Kean P.U.L.S.E programming board. 

Kean P.U.L.S.E (Programming for Unique and Lively Student Experience,) is a student-led programming board that focuses on creating events that promote involvement and strengthen the community on campus. 

“Oh, it’s been amazing! I got a free pillow, rode on a bull, free food, it’s been great,” said Public Health Major Jasmine Vidal.

Students began to disperse from the MSC Patio around 5:00 p.m. Some people wore cowboy hats on their heads, held game prizes in their hands, and mostly everyone had a smile on their face. The Cougar Kick Off: Saddle Up event was a success. It brought students together on the first day of the semester, to socialize, dance, and more importantly, have fun.