Bingo draws largest crowd ever seen by SALD

Upper Gorecki was abuzz with excitement last Friday night, but not for a concert or the Christmas dinner like you’d expect.

Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD) hosted a bingo event, an opportunity for students to win large prizes such as a Delta voucher, mini-fridge, television, Beats headphones, Nintendo Switch and more. A record number of students showed up to the event, filling the conference room to the 450-person capacity dictated by the fire code. A member of CSB security aided the SALD team in adhering to the codes to ensure the safety of those in attendance.

“It was unfortunate that we had to start turning people away,” Stacey Delgado, CSB sophomore and SALD student employee, said. “At the same time, though, we were so happy with the turnout. We want students to be involved and get excited about our events.”

The event provided students with the opportunity to win sought-after prizes and encouraged students of all backgrounds to come together and get to know one another. Many students do not have the option to travel home on the weekends, so SALD aims to host events that encourage students to take advantage of campus-sponsored activities.

“As an out-of-state student myself, I know how difficult it can be to put yourself out there. My hope is that SALD events enable students to meet people and explore new opportunities,” Delgado said.

CSB junior Reagan Bos came to the event alongside her friends and roommates, something she believes fosters CSB+SJU’s community.

“The room was packed, and we didn’t get a table, but it was the most fun we’ve had in awhile,” Bos said. “I feel like these events embody what it means to be a Bennie or Johnnie. It was inspiring to be part of a group that was so excited about something as small as bingo.”

In the past, SALD has hosted a variety of different events for students, ranging from sports games and karaoke to trivia and casino night. CSB junior Emma Smith helps plan many of the events SALD hosts throughout the school year and says student input is the best way to continue events like these in the future.

“The student response to bingo was overwhelming,” Smith said. “If you have any ideas for future events, we always encourage students to reach out to us. We want to continue hosting events that get students excited to participate.”

This upcoming weekend, SALD will be hosting a trip to Blacklight Adventures in St. Cloud on Friday as well as a ping pong tournament on Saturday evening. More information can be found on their Instagram @csbsjusald.