Students climb above their fears at ropes course event

By: Omsalama Ayoub and Genevieve Coonradt

Staff writers

Fears, trust and strength were tested at the Hudson Valley Community College’s adventures rope course from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18. 

The challenges ranged from rock wall climbing to a pamper pole course. There was even a caterpillar climb and pirate’s crossings.

“I liked the rock climbing the most because it’s a good work out and it’s fun to see how fast you can get up the wall.” Matt Costello, an individual studies major, said. 

For safety, studies were required to wear climbing harnesses and helmets.

“It’s a bit of fun to be up high and not have the risk of falling,” Costello added.

Costello also described his experience on the trapeze jump and pamper pole. 

“You get up there and no matter what your mindset is climbing up the pole, you get up there and freeze for a second,” he said. “You see it happen to everyone else so you think ‘Oh I won’t do that!’ but it happens anyway.”

On a traditional ropes course, pamper poles have only just enough room for standing. There is usually nothing in the surrounding area to grab for balance.

According to Elizabeth Vasquetelles, a math and science major, it’s called a pamper pole because it sways at the top. 

“Pamper comes from diapers and they make you want to pee or whatever because you get too scared,” she explained. 

Abdelaziz Aljumaili, a biological sciences major, also tried the pamper pole.

“I did it fast so it wasn’t that big of a deal, but when you get to the top you know it’s like ‘oh okay how am I going to stand up here now?’” Aljumaili said. “There’s nothing around me, [so] it’s a kind of weird feeling, a new feeling.” 

As stated by Vasquetelles, the ropes course was exhilarating, and kind of empowering.

Omsalama Ayoub, a staff writer from the Hudsonian, was also in attendance and got a taste of the ropes course for herself. 

“The man belaying me challenged me to finish each course,” Ayoub said. “I accepted this challenge.”

According to Ayoub, she gripped the rope hard enough to make her hands burn. She said that the ropes course was incredibly challenging mentally and physically. 

“I watched from the top of the pamper pole as Vaquetelles [and] Costello promised me that I would make the trapeze jump,[but] it was very anticlimactic because I didn’t make the jump,” Ayoub continued. “It helped me clear my mind even if I wasn’t prepared for it.”

There were roughly 20 students who attended the ropes course event. The turnout is comparable to the average number of seats in a Hudson Valley Community College classroom.

Student activities flyers and sandwich boards were placed around campus promoting the event. 

However, despite a noticeable advertising initiative, less than 0.2% of Hudson Valley Community College’s 12,000 enrolled students were in attendance of the event. 

To book the ropes course, the Student Senate contacted Adam Sopris, Assistant Director of the Athletics Department and Director of the Sports Information Department.

Student Activities was then tasked with advertising, which occurred a few days before the event. 

“If you are a student and have any ideas to help campus engagement feel free to reach out to us and we will see what we can do,” said Zion Sherin, Student Senate President and business administration major.