On Feb. 4, the Office of Student Involvement, Leadership and Intercultural Engagement on the Long Island Campus of St. Joseph’s University (SJNY) hosted the first We Are Wednesday event of the semester. The monthly events hosted by the office are open to all, and focus on facilitating social opportunities and fostering community among students of the University regardless of their major or academic year.
February’s event was the Buddy Bash, held in the Student Center Multipurpose Room during common hour. Inspired by the occasion of National Make-A-Friend Day on Feb. 11th, it offered various friendship-themed activities for participating students, including supplies to make friendship bracelets, frost cupcakes and decorate gratitude journals. There was also free hot chocolate and SJNY-branded mugs available to attendees.
The event was a major hit for those in attendance, as shown by the fact that there were only a few mugs left for grabs by the end of common hour. Most of the students present circled the Multipurpose Room to do every available activity alongside their groups of friends. One student, William Finn ‘27, even claimed that the cupcakes available for decorating were the best he’d ever had.
Buddy Bash was also successful beyond the crafts being enjoyed by participants. Conversation was vibrant throughout the hour, spanning well beyond university-related topics, and the room remained relatively busy once students began to arrive.
Overall attitude about the occasion among attendees is best summed up by a departing student who remarked to staff that she found it to be very relaxing. This is certainly a goal of the We Are Wednesday events more broadly, as the opportunity to socialize also serves as a reprieve from the stress of academics on top of forming university-wide connections.
The next We Are Wednesday event will take place on Mar. 4 from 12-2 p.m. Location, theme and available activities have yet to be announced by the Office of Student Involvement.
