UNC events and clubs kickoff the spring semester

It's a new year and UNC's student organizations are preparing to kickoff the semester with a variety of events. Whether you're looking for community or fun ways to get involved, here are some events to look forward to in January:

Carolina Union Activity Board

Cecelia Nobles, UNC junior and CUAB Arts Committee Chair, said she plans to host three arts events in January. 

She said she enjoyed witnessing students who might not otherwise have met come together. Throughout the first month of class, Nobles said she plans to hold a flower bouquet bar, a DIY tea bag making event and a pasta and painting dinner where students will receive a meal and paint canvases. 

“It just helps students have a balance. College isn't solely about academics,” Vivian Bunker, CUAB Special Events Chair said. “It's about making connections with people, the people around you. They're the ones that are going to last a lifetime.”

Bunker said CUAB is partnering with other student engagement organizations to host a Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Celebration on Jan. 14-15 and Jan. 18-19. This year’s theme is “The Time is Now” and each day will include a different activity, whether it be a community celebration or a day of service or a lecture.

“We just want to make it a good weekend for everyone, while also being an educational weekend and celebrating what Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be,” Bunker said.

New Initiatives

Two organizations are approaching book clubs from different perspectives this semester. For business enthusiasts, two pre-business students have established Business Page Turners – a business literature book club.

The co-presidents of the club, Riya Shah and Hollis Brady, said they wanted to create an opportunity for students in business to network, while introducing students in other areas of study to business literature. 

“If you are questioning whether business is the right field for you, I think exposure through literature is the best way to do it,” Shah said. 

While the focus of this organization is reading business literature, Brady said prospective members should not be wary of joining if they aren’t in the field. “You don't need to be a business major to understand the importance of business, because business is everywhere,” he said. 

At the Campus Y, students can get involved in a social justice book club for an opportunity to explore different ideas and topics. Last semester, students read about the immigrant experience and Afro-Futurism as a part of the club.

Co-President Karina Vasudeva said the book club was a general way for students to get involved and learn about different cultural topics.

“I encourage any and all people who are curious about the Campus Y to even stop by Meantime and get a coffee and learn a bit more,” she said.

Spring Involvement Fair

Students can explore more opportunities and organizations for the upcoming semester at the Spring Involvement Fair. Co-hosted by the Residence Hall Association and Student Life & Leadership, the three-day event will take place on Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 in the Carolina Union.

Residence Hall Association President Tahliyah Smalls said the purpose of this event is to introduce students to organizations they may not have encountered during Fall Fest. She said during the fall semester, it can be overwhelming for students to try and find an organization in the midst of adjusting to UNC. 

She said forms are still open for organizations to enter into the fair and that groups from all backgrounds are welcome to perform or get involved.

“I think what's so cool and great about it is that it really does take everyone linking hands as organizations, as cultures, as people to really put this on and have it be as fun as it can be for the students,” she said.

@IsabellaHopkinz

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