Alex Morris, senior editor

Wednesday, April 9 marked Warren Wilson College’s annual work day. According to the Director of the Work Program Office, Karen Huntley, Work Day has been happening for at least 20 years.

The one weekday of the academic year when there are officially no classes, work day holds different priorities for different students. Those that can afford to lose the hours sleep in; some go off campus for kicks, but the vast majority of students who live on campus eat breakfast with their own work crew and then spend the rest of the day accumulating work hours with other students, staff, and faculty.

Huntley said that there were over 460 time cards turned in, more than Work Day has ever had before. From 12:30, when Dean of Work Ian Robertson encouraged the crowd, until 4:30 when the day was winding down, the work program offered various outdoor jobs that students could pick and choose from. This year’s options included removing invasive species from all over campus, trail maintenance of the Jensen and Fitness trails, building smoking pavilions, planting native grasses, and other jobs. The sun was bright, and sunscreen was recommended.

 “I think it went wonderfully,” Huntley said. “We had a couple of people with poison ivy and some scratches, but overall everybody had a great time.”

 Senior Eliza Sydney worked  by the garden pulling up weeds the majority of the time.

 “I had a great time,” Sydney said. “It was sunny, we pulled weeds and cut potatoes, everyone was in a good mood, and it is officially spring!”

 At the end of Work Day, the Warren Wilson Community gathered at the pavilion to eat barbecue and students received awards and prizes for their hard work. Several students played Old-Time music for the crowd, and there was a general feeling of satisfaction that resided over the people as they munched away off of plates, silverware, and Frisbees they’d brought from home to save waste.