35 hay barrels in, Tessa Mallalieu, the director of The College Union Board at TCNJ, stopped for a breather. CUB’s Spring Latenighter was the next day, and the organization was kicked into high-gear.
“What a wild ride, honestly,” she remarked in an introspective moment. “Right now I’m unloading 35 barrels of hay for an event we have tomorrow, thinking to myself how it’s hay, and I’m unloading it, but I still rather be doing that than anything than else.”
Tessa joined the College Union Board when she was a sophomore at the college, despite hearing of CUB long before she came to TCNJ.
“I saw them on Instagram, and thought that it was the perfect type of production work for someone who had done crew (for theater) in high school.” She said. “But I didn’t start until my sophomore year, which was a stupid and funny thing.”
Her late start to event planning came as a unique factor to her application last year for director. During her time on the board, Tessa became the only member who hadn’t been on general board or associate board prior to being on executive.
“And now I’m the director of the organization.” She laughed as she continued to direct the movement of the hay.
Her role as director comes with many responsibilities and independent decision making, something Tessa has had to get adjusted to as the year has gone on.
“I was surprised how difficult being director was because I had wanted it for so long,” she said. “I thought I was prepared, but I guess you can never really be that prepared when going into such a big leadership position.”
In the beginning of the school year, the organization faced obstacles regarding budget cuts that seemed at first impossible to tackle. After long hours in the office, Tessa made it past the first semester, and molded a clear path for the exciting events of the second semester.
But however stressful her job may be, Tessa always has her 18 event coordinators by her side.
“The best part of CUB has definitely been the people,” she said. “Being their director this year and helping them through everything they’re going through was super rewarding to me.”
As for what she’s doing when she’s not in the CUB office?
“Sleeping, literally sleeping. I don’t do anything else.”
Before Tessa finishes off her role of director for the year and graduates from the college, she is putting together one last event that she knows will end up being her favorite event she’s ever planned.
“Funival is coming up, and it’s going to be the best funival that we’ve ever had.” Tessa beamed.
On May 5th, Tessa will conquer her last obstacle in CUB: executing Funival. For the first time in three years, the end-of-year carnival will be hosting a concert for the student body, as well as bringing back the beloved Ferris wheel, something that has also been absent for the past few years.
“So that’s going to be my favorite event from my past few years in CUB,” she said. “I know it will be.”