This event brought in visitors from all over. Shefalica Thapa, a sophomore (left), brought two guests, Nina Carter and Elizabeth Huggins. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
Student affinity group leaders sampling snow cones to prepare for the event. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
There were canopies available both in eating and sitting areas so that attendees could escape the heat. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
Drinks like Bold Rock cider and beer were available for students that provided a valid ID when they checked in. Photo by Peyton Saunders.
Last Friday, the Office of Student Belonging hosted its third Fridays on the Dell event in the Schewel Hall Plaza, co-sponsored by student affinity groups.
According to Alexis Scott, the assistant director of Student Belonging Initiatives, affinity groups, including the Black Student Association, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, the Latin American and Hispanic Student Society, Man2Man, Woman2Woman, the Neurodiverse Student Alliance, and Alpha Psi Lambda, all came together alongside the Office of Student Belonging to put together an afternoon of fun.
Catch Andrew Bev and Gretchen Cline’s performance of “Wagon Wheel” on the Critograph Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/critograph_/. (upload to social media alongside story, I edited the video with a caption for social media, will send to Aisha). Video taken by Peyton Saunders.
Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures for mid-September, attendees and organizers did not let the weather stop them from having a good time. Refreshments included a free snow cone station and a cash bar for students 21 and older.
Assistant Director for Campus Engagement, Gretchen Cline, said that Campus Engagement, Student Belonging, and Student Affinity Groups have been planning this event since July. Even with careful planning, some things have to be adapted through trial and error.
Cline explained the decision was made to move Fridays on the Dell from the Daura Museum to in front of Schewel. She said, “We started at the Daura, and everybody was like, ‘Hey, you know what, I wonder if we would have more space in front of Schewel, and if we’d have more student engagement,’ and so that’s proven to be a good change.” Careful planning came together to create a festival-like event that drew in plenty of Lynchburg students, as well as guests from other universities.
Sophomore nursing major, Shefalica Thapa, was so excited to attend this Fridays on the Dell event that she invited two friends from another school’s nursing program, Nina Carter and Elizabeth Huggins.
“I just think that the University of Lynchburg and Lynchburg are really special, and so I think we, as staff, faculty, our community here, we have to be really intentional about creating spaces for connection and belonging,” said Scott.
Find out more about events on campus at https://www.lynchburg.edu/student-life/student-activities/ or in your school email. Check out the last Fridays on the Dell for this semester on September 26.
