Students were shocked to find out that the Student Government Association was handing out cold water bottles to students standing in line at the bookstore this year.
“I wish I would have known,” said Amanda Morris, a student at Bakersfield College. “I had to stand in line for like an hour.”
“It [the line] was crazy,” said Maria Leon, 19, another student at BC.
Although some students did not know about the water bottles that were available to them, according to Dean of Students Don Turney, students did benefit from this service. “We handed out 576 bottles of cold water.”
Outside in the sweltering sun were, according to Turney, members of the SGA.
“The SGA paid for the waters,” said Turney, “so we could provide more comfort to students waiting in line and to make sure everyone was hydrated.”
Although, according to Turney, the idea originated from Vice President Jack Hernandez and President William Andrews, “we picked up the ball and ran with it.”
He noted that money made from the Kern Schools Federal Credit Union’s ATM machines and the new student lounge helped to pay for the water bottles.
“We hadn’t anticipated on it being a very significant amount of money,” said Turney, “so we absolutely wanted to give that back to the students.”
“The students [SGA] were more than willing to help out their fellow students,” said Turney. “It was a very positive experience for both the SGA members who got out there and distributed the water and for the students who were hot and thirsty, waiting in line.”
Not only will cold refreshments be available to students in the summer, Turney says there may be plans to distribute hot chocolate or coffee in the winter.
“[Refreshments] will definitely take place in the future,” said Turney. “Be prepared. Anticipate the fact that there’s going to be long lines.”