By Hannah Ziegler
When Leah Hopson saw an opportunity to replicate her childhood memories of visiting Build-A-Bear Workshop, she immediately knew how she and her roommate would spend their Friday afternoon.
Hopson, a senior atmospheric and oceanic sciences major, was one of many students who attended the annual Build-A-Bae event hosted by Student Entertainment Events (SEE) at Stamp Student Union on Friday.
Build-A-Bae often attracts students who are eager to feed their nostalgia for Build-A-Bear Workshop while celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends. This year, participants had two in-person opportunities to receive their 15-inch stuffed animal baes at Stamp: “stuff and stay” or “pick up and go.” Students also had the option to have their bae mailed home if they were not living on campus.
SEE Special Events Coordinator Jenna Prasad said that the Valentine’s Day theme and in-person participation opportunities are among what makes Build-A-Bae a student-favorite event.
“We want to provide students with a fun way to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit and to take home a little furry friend. There are not that many in-person events on campus, so providing students with a way to participate and have fun while still being 100% safe was important,” Prasad said.
Shannon Gorman, a junior communications major and SEE general body member, said the opportunity to participate in an on-campus event was the main appeal of Build-A-Bae for her. Gorman opted for the “pick up and go” option to build her stuffed dog bae in the comfort of her apartment.
Students like senior neuroscience major Doris Chang thought the event struck a good balance between offering in-person experiences and prioritizing student safety.
“I don’t have a lot of opportunities to go out because of COVID, so I like how [SEE was] able to do this and still make sure everyone is being safe,” Chang said.
Prasad said that she was proud of SEE for keeping the essence of the traditional, in-person Build-A-Bae event while maintaining student safety.
Despite the event encouraging students to swap stuffed animals with a real-life bae, most participants chose to keep their furry friends for themselves.
“I was going to give [my bae] to my boyfriend, but it’s too cute, so I’m going to keep it,” said sophomore biology major Kindred O’Neill.
Amy Tran, a junior cell biology major, said that she and her boyfriend Connor Lu might share their new giraffe and panda bear pairing. However, Tran said the event was less about swapping stuffed animals and more about finding a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
In Gorman’s opinion, whom the bae is for doesn’t matter as much as the experience of building it.
“Whether it’s a present for someone else or snuggle buddy for yourself, [Build-A-Bae is] just a great way to have fun, relax and enjoy the season,” Gorman said.
Featured photo: A student picks up his to-go bae from SEE event coordinators at Stamp Student Union. Hannah Ziegler/Stories Beneath the Shell