Looking to get connected to student life on campus? Join us virtually on Sunday, September 27 from 12 pm - 2pm for SmallFest during Carolina Family Weekend 2020! This virtual involvement fair will be held on the Heel Life website to learn more about student organizations as well as campus departments that have involvement opportunities.
Visit go.unc.edu/SmallFestCFW to learn more and RSVP!
In August we held our first-ever virtual fair and had 195 organizations participate and nearly 600 attend! The event will provide an opportunity for you to meet with organizations virtually to learn more about how to get involved. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other students and discover organizations that you might want to join! On the day of the event, you will navigate to the event page to 'enter' and participate in the fair. You will be able to view a short description for each participating org and navigate from each organization's virtual meeting room to gain more information and then you can virtually "hop" from room to room.
Please do not hesitate to contact organizers in the office of Student Life and Leadership at [email protected] if you have questions or concerns in the meantime!
UPDATE: The Carolina Union will close for Winter Break on Wednesday, November 25, at 5pm. We will reopen when the spring semester begins in January.
The Gallery outside the Great Hall will remain open as COVID-19 testing site for UNC students. Hours are:
November 30th - December 23rd: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
December 24th - January 3rd: No testing
Hours through November 25 will be:
Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-5pm (West Lounge open until 7pm)
Friday: 7:30am-5pm
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
A SmallFest Success
The Carolina Union's pivot of its annual FallFest to a virtual event helped hundreds of students and student organizations connect.
From August 24-28, the Carolina Union hosted a series of virtual events to promote involvement in UNC student organizations. The series, called SmallFest, was held in place of Carolina’s annual FallFest celebration and involvement fair, which typically draws a crowd of more than 20,000 people and is a major catalyst for involvement at UNC.
The week featured the release of student-produced recruitment videos called SmallFest Films, and culminated with the SmallFest Student Organization Showcase, an online platform on the HeelLife website for students to explore groups and meet on Zoom with those that matched their interests. The events garnered significant participation:
More than 200 student organizations participated in SmallFest or SmallFest Films
597 students met with student organizations during SmallFest
6,560 video views for SmallFest Films, from 700 unique viewers
62,699 impressions on SmallFest social media posts
The participation numbers indicate a desire and need among students to find ways to get involved despite social and physical distancing, said Tammy Lambert, assistant director for student organizations in the office of Student Life and Leadership, and one of the organizers of the SmallFest.
Lambert said SLL will continue creating programs to help students connect with organizations and is currently in the early stages of organizing another involvement fair to be held in October.
“It’s just as important to make those friends and to make those connections,” Lambert said of involvement in student life. “This year, we might have to work harder, and we might have to get more creative but getting involved is still a critical piece of life at college.”
Echoing Lambert’s comments about the importance of connection, senior Kylie VanDerMolen said she first stepped onto UNC’s campus as a student four years ago with excitement to dive into college life but trepidation about her very small network of friends.
“I really didn’t know anybody,” VanDerMolen said. While attending FallFest her first year she sought out Carolina Vibe, a dance company that specializes in jazz, contemporary and hip-hop performances. Her involvement has not only provided a social foundation and creative outlet, it is now a leadership experience as she serves as president of the 30-member group.
Carolina Vibe met with several potential new members at SmallFest and encouraged them to submit audition videos, which they will accept through the middle of September, VanDerMolen said.
In another SmallFest virtual meeting room, The Buddy Project, a group that connects students to mental health resources and focuses on suicide prevention, greeted several students as well.
“A lot of them just didn’t know what our club was, so we explained what our club was, what we did,” said group president Emily Torborg. “And we talked a little bit about their year and how they were adjusting.”
Research provided by SLL supports the idea that campus involvement is a critical part of a successful college experience. A 2019 study published by the Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship linked deep involvement in quality co-curricular activities with thriving in college.
“Involvement expands learning beyond the classroom,” said Lee Roberts, student programs coordinator for SLL. “It’s a chance to take what you are learning and apply it to help strengthen an organization, so the skill-building that occurs is critical.”
Roberts also pointed to the sense of belonging that involvement in a group creates.
“Student organizations are a chance to connect people across disciplines and across majors,” Roberts said. “I think it’s even more critical right now to feel connected to campus, whether you are here physically or participating in Carolina Away. Student organizations offer a way to make sure you have that connection.”
The semester ahead for VanDerMolen and Carolina Vibe is an opportunity to connect in new ways, as the group transitions to virtual choreography, rehearsals and performances. VanDerMolen expects the new format to present challenges but is confident her team will adjust. Most of all, she’s excited simply to have meaningful contact with a people she cares about.
“It’s really special to be able to talk to all the people I feel really close to,” she said. “I’ve been on the team since I was a freshman. It’s a nice feeling to be able to have something in common with a group of people, and just get together and share the experiences we’re having in this time. It’s nice to have a group you can rely on.”
SmallFest Films
With FDOC here, it's time to start another semester at UNC and the Carolina Union! This year will present unique challenges, and we are committed to helping keep our community safe. Please have a look at the video below, which outlines our Fall procedures, and details what our offices do to help you get the most out of your time at Carolina! For updated information about our operations, visit go.unc.edu/safeunion.
Want to get involved in the Carolina Union Board of Directors? Applications are now being accepted for the Student Member-at-Large and is open to any registered, full-time student, not scheduled to graduate prior to the conclusion of the term they are to serve.
This position is a vital voice to the operations and the consciousness of the board. Deadline is Friday, August 17, at 5:00pm. The application can be downloaded here found at go.unc.edu/CUBODsmal. Apply today!
The Carolina Union has re-opened to the public. Several new policies and procedures have been adopted to keep our facilities safe for visitors and staff. These include:
Masks: Masks must be worn in our building at all times, except while dining.
Cleaning and sanitation: Our housekeeping staff will be cleaning regularly, with a focus on disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
Restrooms: Restrooms will be open, but some sinks and stalls may be offline to enable spacing.
Spacing: Signs and markings throughout the Union will indicated required spacing. We may limit entry to the building if maintaining space is difficult.
Entrances and Exits: Please enter through indicated doors, and follow flow of foot traffic guides.
Closed Spaces: The East Wing of the building is closed to the public. Signs will clearly mark areas that are closed.
Food Service: Wendy's and Alpine Bagel will be open starting August 3. Hours may vary depending on county/state mandates.
Hours: Building hours will be Monday-Friday from 7:30am-11pm, Saturday 9am-11pm, and Sunday 11am-11pm.
Please visit go.unc.edu/safeunion for detailed information. Darian Abernathy, chair of our Board of Directors, discusses our new policies in the video below:
Dear Carolina Community,
As the leaders of several of the largest organizations on campus, we echo the statements and letters that have been shared by organizations across campus expressing solidarity with the Black community and demanding change. While our fellow students have already given voice to the gravity of this time with more emotion and eloquence than we could ever replicate, we also recognize the importance of speaking with our own united voice.
We stand in solidarity with the Black community and mourn the loss of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Monika Diamond, Sean Reed, Nina Pop, and Tony McDade. As we are all aware, these are just a few names among a long list of tragedies tied to the history of racism in this country. We recognize that silence is not an acceptable option and we are committed to standing up for what is right, just, and equitable by using our platforms to uplift and advocate for the Black community.
This commitment cannot be limited to words alone. As student leaders, we pledge ourselves to the following action items:
Engage in and actively support education on racism (both in this country and on this campus) in an effort to create meaningful dialogue and action to address it.
Organize campus wide programming that educates the student body about racial issues and emphasizes the importance and value of diversity.
Create safe spaces, both within our organizations and for the wider student body, to engage in meaningful and educational dialogue.
Speak out against and fight all forms of racism whenever and wherever we meet it: in our community, in our social circles, and in our own lives.
Uplift minority organizations and work to intentionally provide them with the resources and platform necessary to amplify their voices.
Push university administration to adopt similar commitments and proactively dismantle barriers to success and equal access for black students.
Zealously defend the rights of students to engage in protests and other forms of peaceful activism.
Formalize all of these expectations within our own organizations to continue the momentum long after we have graduated.
While these action items are important steps towards addressing racism on campus, our actions cannot end with this list and we remain flexible to learning and adopting new strategies that will meet our goals. We remain committed to supporting and advocating on behalf of every student in the Carolina community, especially black students. We encourage everyone in the Carolina community to do the same, be your most authentic self, and fight for what you believe in.
As student leaders, we stand by the Carolina Union’s mission to support “safe, inclusive, and educational experiences that enable students to maximize their time at Carolina.” We will work collaboratively, and use our positions to support the well-being of all Black students. Whether these events are occurring here on campus or beyond, as Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
In Solidarity,
Darian Abernathy, Carolina Union Board of Directors Chair
Sarah Bradley, Carolina Union Board of Directors Vice Chair and CUAB President
Reeves Moseley, Student Body President
Kira Griffith, President of the Residence Hall Association
Ryan Collins, President of the Graduate and Professional Student Federation
Keshav Javvadi, Speaker of the Undergraduate Senate
A summer of social distancing and a closed UNC campus have not prevented the Carolina Union Activities Board (CUAB) from creating a fun and fulfilling plan for summer activities. Despite the challenges created by the fallout from the coronavirus, CUAB has already begun a robust schedule of summertime programming, with more in the works.
“Initially, I was concerned about engagement with virtual programs,” CUAB president Sarah Bradley said. “People have been more engaged that I thought they might be. I think schedules at home have been kind of mundane, so I hope we are able to provide some fun.”
Already underway are several virtual giveaways, including series called “Dinner on CUAB” where winners are selected each week and treated to takeout dinners from Chapel Hill restaurants. The social media contests have the added benefit of supporting businesses that have been impacted by social distancing measures.
Future plans include arts-themed collaborations with UNC Arts Everywhere, trivia nights, social medi scavenger hunts, as well as wellness and professional development series.
Be sure to follow CUAB on Instagram and Twitter to stay up-to-date on fun activities ahead!
Student Organizations in need of guidance as they prepare for the 2020-21 academic year can turn to the Office of Student Life & Leadership (SLL). This summer, SLL will offer regular Zoom consulting sessions this summer designed to help student organizations officers with planning for the year ahead. Visit go.unc.edu/VirtualConsulting to schedule a session!
Offerings will include
· To provide student organization leaders with campus tools and resources to plan for the 2020-2021 academic year
· To analyze review or org structure and governing documents.
· To help create a strategic plan for 2020-2021 student organization programming
· To offer virtual and alternative programming suggestions for student organizations.
· To strengthen relationships between student organization leaders and SLL.
I write to all of you about the recent events in Minneapolis where George Floyd, an unarmed Black man died in police custody. I denounce the actions of the police officers involved in this senseless act. Our community and our nation are hurting and speaking out against this act of violence and racism.
The mission of the Carolina Union is to create safe, inclusive, and educational experiences that enable students to maximize their time at Carolina. I am committed to carrying out the mission of the Carolina Union. The Carolina Union is a place that embraces differences. It is a place that creates a community where people care for one another. It is place where students gather to go to events, to attend meetings, to learn and to respect each other. As the Executive Director of the Carolina Union, I will continue to work with my staff and students to provide a safe space for all. I fully support and value an inclusive community. I seek to promote a community where diverse viewpoints are respected and welcomed.
I ask you all to come together and embrace the community we have. We have a lot of work to do and we must do better. There are many resources out there to help. I encourage you to seek out the staff in the Union as well as some of the resources listed below.
Thank you,
Alexandra Marchesano
Executive Director of the Carolina Union
Resources and Information:
Counseling and Psychological Services
https://caps.unc.edu/
Student Wellness
https://studentwellness.unc.edu/
Bail Funds:
Louisville Community Bail Fund: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fund/
North Carolina Community Bail Fund of Durham: https://www.nccbailfund.org/
Take Action Chapel Hill: https://www.takeactionch.com/
National Bail Out: http://nationalbailout.org/
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
Community Justice Exchange’s Bail Funds by State: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory
Bail Funds by City: https://tinyurl.com/bailfundslink
Donations:
Reclaim the Block: https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home
Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
North Star Collective: https://www.northstarhealthcollective.org/
The Legal Rights Center: https://www.legalrightscenter.org/
Communities United Against Police Brutality: https://www.cuapb.org/
Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/
NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/
Know Your Rights Camp: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/
Go Fund Me:
Ahmaud Arbery (I Run with Maud): https://tinyurl.com/maudGFM
George Floyd: https://tinyurl.com/georgefloydGFM
Tony McDade: https://tinyurl.com/tonymcdadeGFM
Petitions:
Text “FLOYD” to 55156 or sign the petition here: #JusticeforFloyd
Text “ENOUGH” to 55156: demand justice for Breonna Taylor
Text “JUSTICE” to 55156: demand DA George Barnhill and Jackie Johnson are removed from their office in GA
Justice for George Floyd: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd
Justice for Breonna Taylor: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor
Justice for Ahmaud Aubrey: https://tinyurl.com/ahmaudpetition
Justice for Tony McDade: https://www.change.org/p/black-lives-matter-activists-justice-for-tony-mcdade
Justice for Sean Reed: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-joe-hogsett-justice-for-sean-reed
Speak Up:
To demand release of protestors/prosecution of all officers involved:
County Attorney Mike Freeman (612-348-5550)
Mayor Frey (612-673-2100)
Minneapolis City Attorney’s office (612-673-3000)
Demand justice for Breonna Taylor via petition signing or phone banking
Statements from Other Campus Organizations:
Black Congress: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAxu4R6A26S/
Black Student Movement: http://www.uncbsm.com/statement
Campus Y: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aSoKLqed5t6ICK-h3IF9PphIa6od0Tl0DCAjONWo-lY/edit
Carolina Association of Black Journalists: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3B9i5gf0_/
Carribean Student Organization: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAy8NgfgS3x/
CUAB: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1eYXNAxAm/
Sangam: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA0WNe4Ff1h/
The Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1Urusl_3H/
Masterlist of Additional Resources and Information:
tinyurl.com/blmforever
*Thank you to the UNC Executive Branch, Campus Y, and Black Congress for putting together these lists of resources.
