Did you take the plunge?
The 24th Annual Polar Bear Plunge, Campus Recreation & Wellness’s biggest event of the year held in the Student Recreation Center, brought out much of ECU’s student population to jump in the outdoor pool filled with water less than 40 degrees on the night of January 23rd. With a beautiful cake dedicated to Shivers (the event mascot), food, and refreshments provided by ECU Dining, this year’s event caught the eye of many students on campus. While the Plunge was kicking off, there was an involvement fair in the Student Recreation Center where students could learn more about many different organizations on campus. The Polar Bear Plunge also featured inflatable games like ax-throwing and speed pitch, and even SAB’s popular “Stuff-A-Plush” where students can make their own stuffed animals.
Over 840 people took the plunge this year and many for the first time. Adam Garzon, a senior, came into the event unsure of what to expect. Garzon has watched videos of the previous Polar Bear Plunge events and finally worked up the courage to take the plunge himself. 
His favorite part of the event was jumping with his friends and the adrenaline that comes from the cold temperatures. Matt Cox, a freshman, also took the plunge for the first time after being persuaded by his friends. Cox was excited to participate but didn’t realize how cold the water was actually going to be. He said that the best part of the night was getting out of the freezing cold water and quickly jumping into the indoor pool to heat back up. Junior student, Joshua Taylor’s favorite part of the jump was the countdown right before you jump in and sharing the experience with his friends. The first 500 jumpers received commemorative beanies and t-shirts to pridefully show their bravery. Many students were making plans to attend and plunge again next year before they even left the Student Recreation Center. Just like the students, all of us at Campus Recreation & Wellness can’t wait for the next Polar Bear Plunge!