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From Bingo to Ballads: UMW Builds Community One Event at a Time 

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.” 

For instance, boy bands and breakup ballads are sure to echo across campus on Wednesday nights at karaoke, with students singing everything from jazz classics to pop hits depending on that week’s theme. On Thursdays, participants sit in their usual spots for spirited rounds of trivia, testing their knowledge on topics like mythology, movies and ’90s music.  

There’s even something for those who enjoy a quieter atmosphere. Crafternoons are held on Wednesdays at the Cedric Rucker University Center, and students are always ready to pour glitter into junk journals or glue sequins onto pennant flags.  

“Because these events happen every week, students can say, ‘My friends and I go to Bingo every Tuesday at 8 p.m.,’” said Night and Weekend Programming Assistant Faith Jones ’24. “There’s an assurance that it’s going to be there – it’s always going to be reliable.”  

Student coordinators also play a key role, and SAE Assistant Director Maelyn Beitzel ’21 says they’re essential to keeping the weekly programming running.  

“The student leaders are preparing all week, making Instagram posts, getting the spaces ready and training volunteers,” Beitzel said. “If it wasn’t for them, these events would not happen.”  

One of these leaders is Margeaux Grey ’27, the official karaoke emcee and a student staff member at SAE.  

“I love putting weekly events together because they’re great for new people to come and enjoy themselves,” Grey said. “When I see someone new, I know they’ll probably be back next week.”  

And these weekly events are not only welcoming for newcomers; they give students a chance to explore new interests, meet others and just unwind.  

“What I love about karaoke is that you don’t have to be the best to get on stage and perform,” Grey said. “Everyone, at every skill level, is welcome to just hang out for an hour, and maybe they’ll find Wednesday’s karaoke to be their favorite night of the week.”  

Jones said this approach allows SAE to function as more than just an event-planning office and offers students a consistent and welcoming space on campus.  

“It’s great that we’re another space where students can come in and feel welcome,” she said. “Whether it’s one of our bigger events or something as simple as Crafternoons, students have somewhere to come together.”