Across campus and beyond, the Drake community celebrated Bulldogs Belong Week the week of Nov. 10-14. The student-run week aimed to celebrate differences and share culture in a safe and fun manner.
“[Bulldogs Belong] Week is a week to just bring the community together,” said Emily Le, a member of Crew Scholars and part of the week’s committee. ”We have educational, informational things where you can learn about different cultures, about the different people in our communities, but then it’s also a celebration where people can have fun.”
Bulldogs Belong Week is a tradition that started three years ago, this year being the first time it was run by Crew Scholars. The Crew Scholars is a two-year program for Drake students that teaches leadership skills and self-advocacy in college and after graduation.
The week of community-focused programming kicked off with a showing of “Everything Everywhere All At Once” at the Varsity Cinema, a movie chosen for its story centering on an Asian-American family, according to Le. Bracelet making at Pomerantz Stage in the Olmsted Center the next day was an opportunity for individuals to gather and create bracelets that represented aspects of their identity.
Two events were held on Wednesday, the first being a “Sip and Chill” in the Olmsted Center Breezeway. Drinks were catered by local businesses located just off campus: Lifestyle Juices, 8 Degrees Cafe & Boba and Cafe Chai. The drinks and guest speaker presentation by Shankar Munusamy of the Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences were intended to promote relaxation and mindful practices.
Later that day was the student panel titled “In Our Own Words.” Crew Scholars Sean Groh, Tay’Shaun Lewis, Ty Walls and Alyssa Galvez answered questions centered on belonging at Drake. Students discussed how changes to college equity and inclusion programs across the nation affected their lives. What belonging meant to students on campus, as well as staff efforts to promote belonging, were also part of the discussion.
On Thursday, Mars Cafe hosted a “Know Your Rights” informational event, presented by the Party of Socialism and Liberation Iowa and the Association of Latino Professionals for America. Attendance was open to the public and provided resources on how to approach interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Presenters additionally went over what legal rights an individual has in situations dealing with ICE.
Jazlin Coley is the director of Drake’s Crew Scholars and an alum of the program. She detailed the intention behind working with local businesses and organizations to create the week.
“Out of all of these [events], we have three of these events that centered on community partners,” Coley said. “And that was intentional. When we think about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, it should not just be within these four walls. I want to make sure that students know that they have a home on campus and outside of campus, too.”
To end the week, the Crew Scholars held a Belonging Festival in Fisher-Stelter Hall in the Johansen Student Center. The festival served cultural foods and treats, and art pieces from various Crew Scholar members were on display. The pieces depicted themes of identity in college and in general.
Line dances were the highlight of the night; students taught their peers how to salsa, a new version of the “Wobble,” and more.
Bulldogs Belong Week is a campus effort to make students feel welcomed and embraced. Mayada Alwan, a Crew Scholar and member of the Belong Week committee, found community through her activities and made friends like Le, learning how to find a sense of belonging in the process.
“Just try to find spaces where it makes you feel positive about yourself, where people share similar values as you, like hobbies, those commonalities… It helps you create a better community,” Alwan said. “And also just putting yourself out there and trying new things … even if it’s difficult. It pays off in the long run.”
