Dear JWS,
Hello! I’m writing to you from the conference room of the UB offices, tired but so proud coming off of the first week of classes! The 116th Board had such a strong start to the semester, serving over 3,000 students with our different Welcome Week events and clocking long hours to run rewarding and fun experiences. Our star program was Fire Fest, a bonfire on Dunn Meadow. Yes, we might have lit Dunn Meadow on fire just a little—with food trucks, live music, and many different games. Some of you might remember a bonfire of your own from the last Biennial. (Thanks for the inspiration!) It was a successful collaboration with the Residence Hall Association that created unity and welcomed students back to campus, setting the tone for this year that the meadow is a safe space for community engagement and entertainment.
As we continue into another busy semester, we’re keeping the large-scale events rolling. Our upcoming Speaking of Excellence event featuring Pete Buttigieg sold out instantly, and our upcoming Night Market through the Global Connections committee continues our partnerships with cultural centers. We continue to remain committed to high-quality programming that reaches all students, whether they’re at the pool (enjoying our IU Outdoor Pool film screening of Moana) or at Griffy Lake (taking part in our Mind and Body committee’s upcoming nature hike).
Also coming up soon is our fall retreat! The 116th Board will be traveling up to the University of Michigan to engage with their union and program board for a weekend of bonding and training, energizing us to finish out our term as a well-organized team.
It’s going to be another great year for Union Board! We’re already off to a strong start and I’m encouraged by how well our board continues to rally together with all hands on deck to run creative and engaging events for students. I hope to be able to further update you not just over a screen but also in person at the 44th Union Board Biennial Reunion. The current directors are all so excited for the chance to connect with all of you.
Registration for Biennial is still open! We would love to see all of you back in the Union and on campus for an out-of-this-world weekend. See you soon!
All the best,
Elisabeth Melms
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