UCB kicks-off cultural subgroups with lawn games and treats 

By Molly Korzenowski

Students were invited to play a game of giant Jenga, spike ball and an array of other lawn games while enjoying a culturally specific variety of snacks from Lychee jelly balls to Rebanaditas. This marked the first event for United Cultures of Bethel (UCB), a branch of BSG. According to executive director of UCB Alice Hong, around 55 to 60 students stopped by to say hello, play games or express interest in joining one of the seven subgroups included in UCB.  

“Our mission is to celebrate the similarities and differences that we share in our diverse cultural identities, and to also learn how we can stand in solidarity with the needs of students on campus,” said Alice Hong, the executive director of UCB. 

UCB became an official club at Bethel in 1991, and became a branch of BSG almost a decade later. Hong said that the club is working to gain more interest in the European Americans in Solidarity subgroup which has historically been the smallest in numbers despite the fact that Bethel is a majority white campus. 

“Our team is looking forward to having those hard conversations and dialogues that may be uncomfortable, because we believe that those uncomfortable conversations are when we often grow the most,” Hong said. “All of our UCB events are for every single student on campus, including white students.”

There is a subgroup for every student on campus, including Voz Latinx, Mixed Life, the Black Student Union and European Americans in Solidarity. UCB added a First Nations subgroup director for the first time this year. They are still in search of an Asian Student Alliance director, but hope to continue that subgroup. 

UCB subgroup meetings will begin weekly starting the last week of September. Meetings will serve as a space to celebrate member’s own cultures and to foster judgement-free conversation. Subgroup directors will host their own events and members will have a chance to participate. The events themselves are free for anyone who want to come. 

Meeting times will vary for each group. Students can sign up for a subgroup by filling out a google form regarding the group they are interested in, or contact one of the directors.

*Revised Sept. 24