BYU Office of Belonging hosts Belonging Week on campus

BYU students write on a mural how they can build bridges of understanding. The mural was inspired by a recent quote from President Russell M. Nelson. (Jaycee Lundell)

BYU Office of Belonging kicked off Belonging Week 2024, bringing many students together for a campus fair on Monday, Sept. 30.

The office has hosted similar festivities annually for three years, but each year the celebrations have gotten bigger — going from three days the first year to a full week of events in 2024.

During the kick-off event, students entered giveaways, enjoyed free food and received free belonging T-shirts with the slogan “Belonging Begins with Us.”

BYU students stand in line to enter the giveaway, get a BYU belonging t-shirt, and taste the newest ice cream flavor. Students were encouraged to fill out a feedback survey while waiting in line. (Jaycee Lundell)

Multiple colleges across campus set up booths along the Joseph F. Smith Building plaza to showcase what their college is doing to promote unity and belonging.

“They’ve already been doing this before we came on the scene, and so we just want to highlight that work and support it,” Shana Clemence, communications manager for the Office of Belonging, said.

Clemence felt it was important for each student to understand and feel the belonging and support they need from the places where they spend the most time.

BYU students visit BYU Marriott School of Business booth to learn what the college is doing this semester to promote unity and belonging. Each college across campus set up booths in the JFSB courtyard with free games and swag for the students. (Jaycee Lundell)

Students expressed these efforts to promote belonging make a difference and give them a space to feel seen.

“I think BYU does a really, really good job making sure that everyone feels welcome and I really like how there’s always signs or people saying if you need help, or if you don’t feel like you belong, there’s people always waiting to help,” Mark Udall, a BYU freshman, said.

To add excitement to the event, the office worked with BYU Dining Services to create a brand-new ice cream flavor called Churro Cinnamon Connection.

“Dining services has been a huge belonging advocate and supporter at BYU,” Clemence said.

Bowen Sweet, a student in the financing program at BYU, said the ice cream was delicious and reminiscent of his time as a missionary.

“I like the churro bits in there. Like I said, I served in Mexico. Gotta love your churros there, right?” Sweet said.

BYU students Isac Grayson and Jacob Willis enjoy the newest ice cream flavor, Churro Cinnamon Connection. The ice cream flavor was developed by BYU Dining Services specifically for BYU Belonging Week. (Jaycee Lundell)

In addition to the fair, the office has a host of events planned for the week.

On Tuesday, students joined Y-Serve in making homemade cards while enjoying some waffles courtesy of Waffle Love.

Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 7-8 p.m. will bring an insightful lecture by Jenet Erickson “We are one grand family.” The lecture will take place in the third floor of the Hinckley Center.

Thursday night from 8-10 p.m. will be the debut of a new Belonging Week Plaza Event with musical performances by Mountain Strings and Rhythm N’ Soul Collective, as well as a DJ, games and lots of free food for students to enjoy. The plaza event will take place at Brigham Square.

Friday, the office will close the week of festivities through a wrap-up event where students will share their experiences participating in the week of events. The wrap-up event will take place in 2400 WSC from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information on the week's upcoming events, click here.