It is 8 p.m. on a Thursday night. The air is chilly but refreshing, and the moon is huge and bright, hanging in the sky above campus. Walking past the Bower’s Center, one can see a flicker of light coming from the patio. Laughter echoes.
Upon closer inspection, the event of the night seems to be a bonfire of some kind. What could it be? Only the Fake Fireplace: Spooky Edition, of course.
The Fake Fireplace is a student group that seeks to bring together students from across majors and years and bring community and light to campus. ast week, they took their mission literally by sporting an actual fire.
“For this fireplace, we wanted to do something spooky and Halloween-based for the season,” Fake Fireplace group leader Sheridan Smink, a senior studying social work, said.
The setting is warm and light, outfitted with a s’mores station and snacks as the students gather together in sweatpants and hoodies to have good conversation.
“I have been hosting these events since freshman year,” said Smink. “I’ve loved seeing it evolve. Whether it be staff or friends, anyone can find a home with us.”
The group meets together and seeks to have enriching and high quality conversation, whether it be by catching up on the mundanities of the week, discussing current events or even exchanging spooky stories for the meeting of Halloween weekend.
Haley Bateman, a junior, recently started attending these events this semester and has loved the community.
“What better way to spend a Thursday night? I like having good discussions with people, and everyone here is so welcoming,” Bateman said. “Interacting with people outside of class is important.”
Bateman is absolutely right and points out one of the best parts of the club: community and mutual respect. In the year of 2024, respect, community and real conversation are quickly slipping away as the phenomenon of a healthy society is dead and gone. However, having connection groups like this on campus helps keep the art of conversation and setting aside time alive.
“There is a core group of people who come to every event, but new people are always visiting and many people return,” Smink said about the variation of guests. “College is a lot. We’re here to be a big warm family, a safe and brave space for people to find.”
The mention of the word “brave” speaks volumes, as currently the group exists as an organization of people who have no ulterior motives other than wanting to intentionally set aside time to simply talk.
“We talk about really anything,” Bateman explains, “It depends on the season. It is nice to have a group of people to just catch up on life and society with.” Bateman first heard of the group through a friend’s Instagram story and has attended since. “Just go! It’s always a good time, and so funny too. It’s definitely a perfect low commitment club, which is rare,” she says. Noted! Everyone, no matter what major or year or background, is welcome to come enjoy the presence of other Elizabethtown students at the Fake Fireplace club. Advertisements for upcoming events are posted across campus and in the High Library.
