Serendipity is one of Guilford College’s biggest and most highly anticipated events of the year. Students look forward to that spring weekend of carefree fun all year, all the while dreaming about what new and exciting things Serendipity will have to offer this time.

While the festival itself is a hot topic of discussion, the careful, arduous work of the people who plan Serendipity is not as public.

“One of the challenges is (the student body’s) perception of Serendipity,” said senior Shanon Rule, co-chair of the Serendipity Planning Committee. “It’s so huge and everyone cares so much about it … which puts a lot of pressure to do it and do it right.”

The Serendipity Planning Committee is a sub-committee of the Campus Activities Board and has been meeting since the beginning of the semester to plan Serendipity. The committee is trying to bring Guilford together not only in experiencing Serendipity, but in planning it as well.

“We’re trying to make the planning process open to the entire community,” said Rule. “So whoever wants to have a say in what’s going on has a legitimate ability to do so.”

Junior and fellow co-chair Grace Chafin agreed, saying, “Anybody can come to any of the meetings.”

In addition, Serendipity is going to shift its focus this year.

“This year one of the changes is that we’re putting an emphasis on music again because I think it really brings people together as an art form,” said Chafin. “So we’re having (music) on Thursday with WQFS, Friday with one band, and then Saturday with another headliner, which is new this year because … in the years past we usually just did one headliner that everybody voted on.”

In past years there has been music all three nights of Serendipity. The difference is that this year the student body will get a chance to vote on more than one band.

Continuing with their efforts to involve the whole campus, the committee wants to include Guilford bands in the music-centered festivities this year.

“On Saturday we’re looking to have music literally all day,” said senior and planning committee member Bennett Christian. “And we’re going to shout out to Guilford and be like, ‘Hey, prepare a set and we’re going to have a battle of the bands,’ and from there we’re going to choose a few bands that seem prepared to play.”

“I’m mostly excited about the music, because I feel that music brings everyone together as a community … and I think it would be a great way for everyone to communicate, make new friends, and just chill out and have fun,” said first-year and committee member Alexandria Smith.

Along with the musical focus, the Serendipity Planning Committee is also concentrating on including the entire Guilford community in the event in myriad ways.

“We’re getting all the clubs that want to be involved, involved,” said Rule. “And we’re also trying to reach out to the different residence halls on campus and give them an opportunity to throw an event. … Also, for the street fair, we’re going to be using exclusively Guilford clubs and organizations. … So we’re just excited to see what everyone comes up with and how it all comes together.”

Events to look forward to include the traditional kick-off dinner, a street fair and potential events hosted by residence halls

Above all, the planning committee wants input from the student body to make sure that Serendipity is a fun, memorable time for everyone. They encourage anyone to come to their open meetings, which are Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. upstairs in Founders Hall, and to email any suggestions to [email protected].