What’s a better combination of activities than crepes, free EMU merch, and a good conversation? Students gathered on Monday, Feb. 16, for an event organized by a committee with contributions from Dawn Neil, Trina Trotter Nussbaum, Beck Jantzi, Tyler Goss, Jon Swarts and others, and facilitated by SGA senators and executive members. The event was divided into three parts: drawing a graph or mural of what success looks like, walk and talk, and world cafe.
The event started with a long line of students scanning their IDs and receiving a ticket that read “First Gen Crepes.” Students lined up to get two crepes and fill them with different toppings that included strawberries, bananas, Nutella, blueberries, and more. The tables at the Den had senators sitting at every table, with the goal of helping facilitate the conversation. As the students found a place to sit, music animated the space.
After SGA vice president Esme Martin and SGA senator Jose Lopez Vasquez announced the start of the event and introduced the different activities, all the tables started conversing, talking about themselves and what a map of success would look like.
Director for Student Engagement and Leadership Development Tyler Goss announced a raffle, which would take place after every activity. Students would stop and listen carefully to the numbers being said, in hopes of being able to choose between a mini Herm or an EMU blanket. Emma Huante, a first-year student, was one of the raffle winners and shared that the event was more fun than she expected. “It was fun to be with people I am not usually around,” said Huante as she held the just-won mini Herm with colored fur.
The next part of the event consisted of walking around the indoor track, with the simple task of answering the question “What do you need to be successful?” Students were placed on two lines and held a conversation as they headed back to the Den. To Leeanne Lara, a first-year student, the event was a way to show the community on campus, and she felt good to see how many people are first-generation and are pursuing a higher education.
Finally, a new display of materials was placed on the tables where students would respond to different questions referring to their unique experiences before and during college. Students moved from one table to another, collaborating with others and discussing some hard topics.
Goss shared that the event was conceived to help students make connections and share and learn some tips for success with one another. He hopes that students enjoyed the event and, more importantly, found it helpful.
