By Sean Clasby

This past weekend Quinnipiac University held its fourth annual Big Event. The Big Event is a daylong community service project where students, faculty and alumni volunteer to aid the cleaning up of the communities in the greater New Haven area.

It started here at Quinnipiac in 2010 with only 600 students and this year that number more than tripled to 1,700. According to Big Event co-chair, Catherine Murray, the event was initially created by Jen Walts when she heard of the idea at Texas A&M University. She then brought it here in April 2010 and ever since it has been a big success. Murray attributes the event’s success to the rise in student participation.

More and more students are part taking in the event because they enjoy making a positive difference in the community with their friends. Unknowingly, they are making a greater impact than they realize.

It isn’t a secret that the relationship between Quinnipiac University and the town of Hamden has been a bit rocky over these past years. According to the university, they are trying to reverse this trend. University President, John Lahey and Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson both believe the Big Event helps build up the reputation of Quinnipiac and its student body.

The students are also in agreement that by being actively involved in the community they can overturn the negative perception while show casing the best Quinnipiac has to offer.

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