By Brooke Bailey
Reporter
It’s the day students look forward to all year: Diadeloso.
Thursday, classes are canceled and students have the opportunity to see bands, armadillos and a monkey on campus.
Armadillo races will take place from noon to 4 p.m. in Fountain Mall. Students can also take a picture with Mikey, the capuchin monkey from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or have a self-portrait drawn by a caricature artist from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
An activity carnival, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature more than 20 student organization booths. Each student organization participating will sponsor a different carnival game, such as ring toss or spill the milk.
Manifest Music Co.; The Derivatives; O, Loveland; David Ramirez; Layne Lynch; Jillian Edwards Chapman; Green River Ordinance and Five for Fighting are all scheduled to perform.
Midland sophomore Calley Jones said she is excited about watching Five for Fighting perform.
“I’m one of those rare nerds who’s actually heard of them,” she said.
Fire jugglers and a mentalist are also in the stage lineup. Kamikaze Fireflies, a fire juggling stunt team, will be on stage at noon. Mentalist and magician Max Major will perform at 1:30 p.m.
Students with an appetite will find plenty of food, said Chester, N.J., junior Pauline Minnaar, chairman of Diadeloso.
Six food trucks will be parked on Fountain Mall, serving a variety of culinary temptations from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The trucks are La Lola Loca, Kona Ice Snowcones, The Mix, Lard Have Mercy, The Peached Tortilla and Nettie’s Place.
A free barbecue lunch will be offered in the Burleson Quadrangle from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students, faculty and staff must present a Baylor I.D. to receive lunch.
“It’s a slightly different menu and a little more fun,” Minnaar said.
Students can participate in athletic tournaments, including outdoor basketball, sand volleyball, tug of war and ultimate Frisbee. The top three men and women’s teams will receive intramural points for their respective organizations.
Campus golf, the Strongest Man contest and the Paint Run also provide an opportunity for students to get competitive. The winners of the competitions will receive prizes such as gift cards to local restaurants.
Registration is closed for the Paint Run, but students are encouraged to cheer on their friends, Minnaar said.
Minnaar said the on-campus activities are designed to appeal to students, faculty and the Waco community.
“Dia has something for everyone,” she said.
Dia was started in 1932 by the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, making it an 81-year-old tradition this year.
“The reason the university created it was to have a break from classes and put a smile on people’s faces,” Minnaar said.
Austin senior Jasmine Phillips said she wants to make her last Dia special.
“It’s one of my last chances to embrace Baylor tradition and hang out with my friends before graduation,” Phillips said.
The full Diadeloso schedule can be viewed online at www.baylor.edu/diadeloso.
