Jessica Tezoquipa, contributor

The Multicultural Life (M-Life) Welcome Bonfire was a hit from the jump, underscored by laughter from the swing nearby and students climbing on top of the art installation in Murphy Square. The event was a part of the Lavender Event Series, a series of events hosted by Tristan Crowell and M-life, along with the Queer, Indigenous, People of Color (QIPOC) student organization, in an effort to help students get acquainted with QIPOC. 

It had everything you’d expect from the first week of school; you could find us discussing our schedules, asking about majors and where we’re from, eating free pizza, sipping on Capri Suns, constructing s’mores and debating just how roasted a marshmallow should be.

At this event, I met an Augsburg student who had been in Mexico for the last 10 months, coinciding with my less impressive two week trip to Mexico. We talked about the reasons why we went to Mexico, they asked if it’s still cool to listen to Chappell Roan and I complimented their outfit. This event brought us closer as we sipped our Capri Suns next to one another. Despite both being Augsburg students, this event was an opportunity for us to connect where there otherwise would not have been.

At the Welcome Bonfire, I met with Tristan Crowell, an M-Life student specialist who helped me understand the department. “Multicultural Life is a department on campus that really works to promote community and belonging for all of our students. We do that through a number of ways, [such as] putting on social events like this.” M-Life invites all students to visit them in the Oyate Commons in Christensen Center, which is a good place to hang around and get snacks, take a nap, or speak to a member of their staff if you need support of any kind. Tristan continued, “We’re able to bring people together, build community, and celebrate all the different students we have here on campus.”

M-Life works with other student organizations to put on these types of events all throughout the fall and spring semesters at Augsburg. Five different student specialists cover events that align with the mission of M-Life, which is to promote a diverse, equitable, friendly and welcoming campus environment through their connection with students and events throughout the year. Keep an eye out for the posters around campus and check them out to see who you’ll run across at each new M-Life event!