Smoke from a barbecue wafted around Patriarch Park in East Lansing on Sunday.
The lure of burgers and hot dogs cooking on the grill, bright sunshine and camaraderie enticed students to the busy park from 1 to 5 p.m.
Sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Student Organization , or APASO, and the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs, the picnic has been an annual event.
With nearly 100 people in attendance, the turnout this year exceeded everyone’s expectations, APASO co-president Marc Johnston said.
“We ran out of pop already,” the human biology senior said, only an hour into the picnic.
But worrying about the dwindling food supply couldn’t affect his good mood.
“We’re just glad this many people could come,” he said.
Johnston said he had arrived at the park early that morning to set up the picnic that was two weeks in the making for the group.
“We divided up the responsibilities,” he said.
Johnston said he attributed the increased turnout to this year’s new method of transportation - shuttle buses that circled the dorm complexes and dropped students at the park.
“The shuttles were a big, big bonus,” he said, adding that the racial ethnic student aides in the dorms seemed to have attracted students to the picnic this year.
Michelle Ye said her racial ethnic student aide offered her a ride after she heard about the picnic in a mass e-mail.
“It’s fun,” Ye said. “It’s a good way to meet people.”
While Ye was sitting at the picnic table chatting with people she met, a football came flying toward the small table.
The football came from a toss that went astray in a group of students playing catch nearby. Other students were involved in various sports around the park, including volleyball and baseball.
The bright sunshine and warm temperature made the atmosphere conducive for outdoor sports and explained the increased turnout, said John Lee, a counselor at MSU’s Counseling Center. Lee said he has been actively involved with APASO for several years.
The first time he attended the annual picnic it was raining - but no matter the weather, Lee said the picnic is a worthwhile time for meeting people, getting involved and of course, free food.
“It’s a great way to start the year socially,” he said.
