The Student Leadership and Activities Board hoped to hold a first-of-its-kind event for Homecoming and Family Weekend.
According to a Sept. 16 email from the student affairs office, a “drive-in movie night” was held on Friday, Sept. 27 as part of Family Weekend. The film shown was “Inside Out 2.” According to Disney, the film was released on June 14, and takes place in the mind of a young teenager, featuring her emotions and their interactions. Potters said the goal of the drive-in was to bring students and families together while enjoying a movie. Due to the weather the event was held inside the student center.
SLAB Chair and senior human biology major Torie Potters said SLAB is an organization which helps manage all large-scale events on campus. SLAB was formed several years ago as a merger of multiple campus leadership groups, Potters said, including the previous version of student government. SLAB currently is mainly event-focused, with the new Student Government Association handling other student concerns, Potters said.
SLAB board member and senior biology major Alexa Kinnaman said she hoped SLAB would host events to give students low-cost, fun outlets to relax during what can be a stressful period in life.
“We are here to make their college experience more enjoyable as best we can,” Kinnaman said. “We know that college is a really stressful time, we get stressed out by classes and work and all of that, but we just want to plan events to let students enjoy themselves, you know. We do so without cost, because it’s also financially not an easy time, being in college,” Kinnaman said.
Kinnaman said she wants students to feel comfortable both with campus and the broader city of Indianapolis.
According to the university’s Homecoming schedule, Homecoming and Family Weekend also featured a block party, a tailgate and culminated with an evening football game in which University of Indianapolis played Saginaw Valley State University. The results of the game can be found on the UIndy Athletics football page.
Potters said SLAB also hosted “Homecoming Headquarters” during weekday lunch hours throughout the week leading up to Homecoming and Family Weekend, with the schedule giving the Schwitzer Student Center as their location. According to the schedule, there was a cookie-themed event on Monday, a photobooth on Tuesday, a tote bag giveaway on Wednesday and a pennant giveaway on Thursday.
According to both Potters and Kinnaman, SLAB is holding several other events later this semester. These include the Holiday Tree Lighting, the Winter Formal and Midnight Breakfast.
“We love putting them on and we love talking to students,” Kinnaman said. “They’re all free, they’re all local, it’s a great opportunity that I hope all students get the chance to participate in.”
