Margaret Judge ’29
Staff Writer
The sun had barely dipped below the horizon on Friday, Sept. 25, when the first Pitch Perfect quote echoed across the pool deck. Some students arrived in swimsuits. Others showed up bundled in pajamas, blankets draped over their shoulders, ready to watch the movie from the comfort of deck chairs.
Scripps College’s Office of Student Engagement (OSE) hosted its annual Flick & Float at the Tiernan Field House pool at 7 p.m., screening Pitch Perfect for students who wanted to swim, lounge, or enjoy some snacks. The event gave Scripps students a low-key way to settle into the semester. The weather cooperated, with mild temperatures that held up well! Unlike last year, each Scripps student could bring a guest, which resulted in a larger crowd than the year before.
The night started with a vote. In the days before the event, OSE asked students through email to choose the movie, and Pitch Perfect – a 2012 comedy that follows a college a cappella group through a national competition – came out on top. Students who read through all their emails could cast their vote and see the result before the night arrived, which built some anticipation for the screening. But with the turnout, I might have to reconsider my earlier assumption. Maybe not! Students picked the film themselves, and as a result, the crowd arrived already invested and ready to enjoy.
By the time the sky turned orange, the pool deck was full! Students claimed spots in a mix of seating options, including the standard green sun loungers and the Levitt on the Lawn chairs that were originally provided by Scripps alumna Liz Levitt Hirsch ’74. The line for Chipotle stretched along the edge of the deck. It moved quickly, and the free tacos drew a steady stream of students through the night – the lifeguards even took some home! The food was free for everyone who attended, and students filled their plates and carried them back to their spots among the towels and pool floats. One student even admitted they came just for the burritos.
Others arrived with the water in mind. The pool was warm enough that students could stay in through the entire movie, and the evening air stayed mild as the sun went down. The water temperature was just right, neither a shock when students first stepped in nor too warm to enjoy as the night cooled off. Because the movie started at 7 p.m., students watched the sky fade from orange to dark while the projector screen grew brighter against the water. Even those who skipped the pool stayed comfortable on the deck for the whole film.
The pool was filled with floats in every shape, including donuts, sharks, watermelons, and hamburgers. The floats drifted across the surface throughout the film, and students traded them back and forth between friends. The setup let everyone choose how much of the night to spend in the water. Some floated on their stomachs and watched the screen overhead. Others stayed curled up in hoodies and sweatpants, and a few moved between the two as the movie went on.
The crowd became part of the soundtrack! Many times throughout the movie, the loudest sound over the projector speakers was students singing along. I will say they did not disappoint because when the Barden Bellas hit their big numbers, the crowd laughed and sang, and the chorus echoed across the pool deck.
The guest policy marked a change from last semester, when OSE screened How to Train Your Dragon (live action) and Scripps students couldn’t bring a guest. Alex Wede ’28 said that screening drew far fewer students, and the new policy likely played a role in this year’s turnout. For some students, the guest policy was the draw, since it allowed them to invite a friend from another campus or a roommate who might not have heard about the event otherwise. The change let the event reach beyond Scripps students alone, and the crowd reflected it.
OSE hosts Flick & Float every semester to give students a place to connect and a little break from the abundance of coursework. Hosting it earlier in the fall gave students a chance to catch their breath before midterms picked up. Students who attended said the night offered something different from a typical week on campus.
“I’ll be honest, I came for the Chipotle. But then everyone started singing ‘Cups’ and I forgot I was even hungry,” Parker Jones ’29 said.
For most everyone else, the night was simply a reason to be outside on a warm evening. As the credits rolled and the pool lights came on, students gathered towels and shoes and walked back across campus in the dark. Damp towels were draped over arms, and the chatter followed students out of the pool area and across campus.
OSE announces its events on its Instagram account, @scrippscollegeose, where students can find details about upcoming programs and votes like the one that picked this year’s movie. Students who want a say in future events can follow the account for the next vote.
