Klaus Solko co-executive editor

The weekend of the 19-21 some may have noticed the campus was more barren than usual. This was because Multicultural Life had their annual Oyate Retreat. After departing on Friday students made their way to True Friends camp in Annandale MN. Though the weather was rainy, there was an excited buzz in the air as people compared groups and cabins with their friends. After settling in and getting dinner people got to split off and connect with the organizations that they went on the trip with. This portion gave people a great opportunity to not only meet other people who are interacting with the same organization as them but get to know the organization itself. 

The original plan for the night was to do a bonfire but with the rain we had to stay inside. Despite this challenge the M-Life team pivoted flawlessly. They started up karaoke, which is always a fan favorite, and had the gym open for students including a room with a ping pong table, foosball and pool. They also brought out some amazing food like Buldak ramen, Kraft mac and cheese, and a lot of other tasty snacks. 

The next day was the day of activities. When asked about what they liked best about the trip Lena Lee answered, “the rotations were my favorite part. I thought there was just going to be boring stuff like speeches but the games were actually a bunch of fun.” I personally agree a lot with this sentiment. There were challenges like leading a teammate through an obstacle course while they were blindfolded, stacking cups with only rubber bands and stings allowed to touch them and Apples vs Oranges. That last one really caused some heated debates. These activities encouraged people to talk to and work together with people who they otherwise might have never talked to. 

That is the big theme of the Oyate Retreat, meeting new people and fostering belonging in community. I asked Lena why she thought students should go to Oyate, she said, “[it] builds community. I saw lots of students, especially first years who didn’t know a lot of people gaining community and friends. And they became more extroverted and more talkative. Also helps you know your leaders and the people here who can help you with what you need. And just to have fun.” A university having this type of retreat, that isn’t about students as students but students as people, is something really special. It shows how  much Augsburg and the M-Life staff care about the people who go here. 

If you are interested in getting involved with Multicultural Life, stop by the Oyate commons and hangout. It is a great place to study and there are often snacks. It also like the Oyate Retreat opens up the pathway for community.