by Sharnell Bryan
chief reporter
The second annual Somerfest, hosted by the Ball State Student Memorial Fund, took place at LaFollette Field Saturday.
The charity event featured live bands, a date auction, performances by other student organizations and tarot card readings. It is a celebration of the lives of those lost and who were members of student organizations at Ball State.
Sophomore and coordinator Cari Peterson said the event was successful overall, although it had its pros and cons.
"Having other groups there made it better than last year, but at the same time we didn't raise as much money," Peterson said. "For people who volunteered, however, it served its purpose."
Peterson also said low attendance of 50 people, half the amount of last year, was affected because many events were happening at the same time. She also added, however, that as a result she learned the dos and don'ts for next year.
Peterson said the idea for Somerfest came up last year when two of her friends lost a loved one. She saw how it affected them, and was compelled to do something.
"When you see your friends suffer, you just feel like you have to help them," Peterson said. "Sometimes just talking doesn't do it. You have to be up and active."
Sophomore Julie Rinker, Peterson's roommate and good friend, said she thought it was important for her to be supportive of the event because of its positivity.
"I thought it was a good thing that she was trying something to better the Ball State community," Rinker said. "Being her friend, I felt I had to support."
Somerfest took more than seven months to put together, and the Ball State Student Memorial Fund became its sponsor. Proceeds from the charity event go to the deceased members of the organizations who volunteer.
Peterson said the event is therapeutic for Ball State students and families, and the unique part was that the volunteers are all people who have been affected.
"Everyone who volunteers is someone who has suffered a loss," she said. "For those people, it's the most healing experience they'll go through. It's the only one offered where you're not just talking."
Peterson said the low attendance at this year's Somerfest has not deterred her from wanting to continue to host the annual event she thinks is one of the most positive events offered to students and is a "celebration of life after death."
"It's what we do, and it's an event I love," she said. "We will always continue to do this. People who suffer a loss keep on living, and this is the best way to celebrate that."
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