Hadley Nicolas, Special to The Denisonian
On Sept. 10, Denison’s Center for Belonging and Inclusion hosted their annual Welcome Back Block Party.
The event celebrated the beginning of the school year and welcomed students back to campus with a variety of opportunities to learn more about the programs the Center offers.
“My favorite part of the Block Party is seeing everyone come together in one space and build community with one another,” said Aysha Muhammad, Assistant Director of the Center for Belonging and Inclusion.
With the Welcome Back Block Party, the Center aims to support the social, academic, and cultural transitions of first-year students, and to celebrate the cultural identities that make up the Denison community.
The event featured various activities, including a DJ booth, line dancing, complimentary spray painted T-shirts, and a scavenger hunt to enter a raffle. It also included various giveaways, free food, and free drinks from SIPS.
“The food is my favorite part,” said Alexandra Czajkowski ’29. “It’s very high quality.”
Another important aspect of the Block Party is tabling from a variety of student organizations and campus organizations. Cross Cultural Community Organizations, or C3 organizations, tabled the event to spread the word about their organizations and to connect with new students. C3 organizations celebrate diverse backgrounds and host cultural events to foster community for students. National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Council fraternities and sororities also tabled at the event. These organizations are an important part of the Center’s goal to cultivate social and intercultural communities.
“The Center has been a great place for me to make friends,” said Brianna Donigan ‘27. “Being able to walk in there and see friendly familiar faces at the school has been nice. It’s a place for me to relax, do my homework, and catch up with other people.”
Mariel Drost ‘27 said her favorite part of the annual Block Party is “seeing all the clubs and organizations that help build community out here.” As a part of the Denison K-Pop Dance Group, she recognizes the importance of the Center in supporting belonging. “It’s really helpful in general, especially for C3 groups in Ohio,” Drost said.
Emmanuel Rodriguez ‘27, DCGA president, said his favorite part of the Block Party is getting to interact with the community he has built through the Center for Belonging and Inclusion.
“It’s nice to get to come back to my family that I’ve had for the last four years,” Rodriguez said.
The community fostered by the Center for Belonging and Inclusion was clearly demonstrated by the student’s commitment to the event. The Block Party featured performances by the Afro-Spice Dance Team, IDM Dance Crew, and several other groups, despite the rainy end to the night.
“In the Center we foster a welcoming, inclusive community that facilitates a sense of belonging, interactions across differences, and cultural curiosity for all Denisonians,” said Muhammad.
The Center will continue to welcome students with various events throughout the school year.