Western’s UC Hill is more orange than ever.
The annual Pumpkin Drop was held on Western’s campus. The event involves raising an over-sized pumpkin over 100ft into the air, and dropping it onto the hill. This year, two pumpkins were dropped, of which one of them was a bright Blue Jays blue in colour.
The event is hosted by Western’s chapter of Engineers without Borders, with all proceeds going towards the organization. Western’s chapter organizes many initiatives for it’s students to connect with local and global charity initiatives. It also funds a junior Fellow, who is able to conduct global development research in Canada or in an African country for four months.
Hilary Stone is the VP External for the Chapter, as well as the most recent junior Fellow. She explains that this year’s theme, “Smashing Stereotypes” was about changing people’s perceptions about global development in the African region.
According to Spencer Connolly, a coordinator for the drop, these pumpkins weighed between 500lbs to 700lbs. He says, that they are donated by a farmer, whose daughter was the “original” Western Engineer to “organize the drop.”
All elements of the event, except for the fencing around the drop area, was donated to the group by sponsors.