Bingo Night is extremely popular at the University of Mary Washington, and it’s just one of the weekly activities that provide students with a sense of community.
It’s 8 p.m., and the floor of the University of Mary Washington’s Chandler Ballroom is shaking. Students shout puns at the top of their lungs, sliding clear red shutters over numbers on bright blue boards. They wait anxiously for their winning letter-number combinations to be called, listening to the sharp rattle of balls spinning inside metal lottery drums.
A heated round of rock-paper-scissors breaks out to decide between two winners. One student jumps up and down before walking away with a weighted blanket in hand – a prize fit for a champion – taking a quick victory lap around the table before resetting their board for the next round.
This is just another Tuesday at Bingo Night, one of several low-commitment weekly events hosted by UMW’s Campus Programming Board, a student-led organization advised by the Office of Student Activities and Engagement (SAE). Designed to offer a dependable hour or more of fun, these programs create a consistent lineup of activities that lower barriers to student participation.
“One of the most crucial aspects of the job is making it easier for students to engage with campus,” said Assistant Director of New Student Programs Lillian Lester ’20. “Having events every week helps people feel more comfortable attending because they become familiar with the host, the space and how the activity runs.” Read more about UMW Building Community One Event at a Time.
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