By: T’Neil Gooden
Creativity shone bright as Brooklyn College’s (BC) Undergraduate Student Government (USG) hosted a student-faculty mixer that brought the BC community together on April 16. Students and faculty had the option to either make slime or Legos as they mixed and mingled with one another.
“This event is a great opportunity for students to have a great time with friends while also building and strengthening connections with professors. It’s a perfect place for students to experience what networking is like!” said Hailey Johnston, USG event coordinator and junior at BC.
Attendees had a multitude of slime options, from crunchy and classic to shiny and fluffy. Students also noted the importance of connection during events like these.
“I really liked the event, I think it is a good way to connect with people, and eat food,” said Breanna Dhanraj, a freshman at BC. “[The event] kind of puts you out of your comfort zone and puts you in positions that you wouldn’t normally be in, and it’s a good way to connect with others.”
Over 100 people attended the event, and everyone was able to participate not only in making slime and LEGO projects but also in speaking with different people.
“I had a lot of fun. I talked to people I didn’t really know, and I made slime, and I had fun,” said Julia Corcoran, a freshman at BC.
USG members shared the importance of having time to connect with BC staff.
“This is when students can connect with not only their peers but also professors and sometimes even administrators that can possibly offer an opportunity or an on-campus job,” said Damir Shavkatov, Deputy Events Director and senior at BC.
The event coordinator emphasized that mixers are staples in USG’s history.
“The Faculty Student Mixer is a staple USG event that occurs nearing the end of each semester,” Johnston told the Vanguard. “My favorite part of the event was being able to help out students and faculty make their slime come to life. As well as watch everyone enjoying their time with each other.”
USG members also wanted students and faculty to know that these events are always fully thought out for everyone to participate in and enjoy.
“[USG] chose this timing to be intentional and realistic with our planning. Earlier in the semester, we had many ideas, but we wanted to make sure we could execute something meaningful and well-organized. Hosting the event now allowed us to be more thoughtful and create a stronger & more impactful experience for both students as well as faculty,” Shavkatov said.
These student-faculty mixers are semesterly events, and USG hopes that students will take advantage of the opportunity to connect with individuals across campus.
Shavkatov emphasized the importance of students attending the event and getting involved on campus.
“I highly encourage students to stay on campus after classes. I see time and time again that students want to be more involved and active, but they leave campus after classes,” he said.
“I had to go through this myself. In my freshman year, I did the exact same thing, but because of my peer mentor, I had an on-campus job as a BC Navigator and got more and more involved because of my proximity to other students who make change and drive events.”
USG also wants students to follow club accounts to stay updated on events that occur on BC’s campus.
“If there is a reason why students follow celebrities that they never met, then they should have no problem following club accounts that can actually help and make an impact for them,” Shavkatov said.
Johnston ended the event by speaking about the benefits of attending mingling events like their student-faculty mixer.
“Events are ideal for students who want to break out of their shell and meet new people. The BC community is full of amazing individuals!”
Students interested in further events by USG should check their respective Instagram: @bcstudentgov.