As a student, faculty or staff at Blackburn, Campus Activities Board, or CAB, is nothing you haven’t heard of. CAB is run through the Office of Student Engagement and hosts events every Friday and Saturday during the school year. There are a lot of events ranging from bingo in DCC to bowling at Bowlerio Bowling Lanes off campus. There are even free movie months and travel series where students get to sign up to take a day trip somewhere off campus. Director of Student Engagement Alondra Olvera, the coordinator for CAB, was able to give information via email.
According to Olvera, CAB is, “designed to give students something to do on campus, connect with other students and make new friends.” Olvera says that CAB is beneficial to the school because the most significant complaint they get, from students specifically, is that there isn’t enough to do on campus. With CAB events, the students have an opportunity to go to these events with friends, and to just enjoy themselves and take a break from the stress of college classes. It also gives students a chance to try something new, like try their luck at bingo or try their hand at bowling. However, the events are limited due a budget. The events also depend on what the students want to do. Olvera said, “Every semester we have a survey that goes out and we ask the students… to give us an idea of what the general student body is interested in doing on campus.” It also gives the students a chance to express what they most enjoyed in past events and also how CAB could improve. Olvera then stated, “At the end of the day, CAB wants to bring campus activities that students will attend and that will be successful.”
But what happens if an event is cancelled at last minute? Olvera answered, “We will send out an announcement, put it on our Facebook page and the Blackburn Hub. We will do our best to get something else scheduled in its place, though.” So no worries if an event needs to be cancelled; CAB will do anything and everything they can to still have an event for the students. Olvera also added “If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to let us know at any of the CAB events or email alondra.olvera@blackburn.edu.” Olvera also stated that she was very thrilled about our first guest performer for the start of the CAB events — “Freak Show and Tell,” held on Sept. 8. But what is the event that has the most turnout? Olvera answered, “Platinum Bingo. Every semester towards the end, we have a large Bingo Night called Platinum Bingo and we pack all of DCC. Platinum Bingo is when we have our huge prizes that usually include TVs, gift cards and more.”
Olvera said that she would, “love to remind everyone that we do have our incentive program still in effect.” For every CAB event held, students should bring their CAB fare card to get a stamp. Ten stamps, and it can be cashed in for an extra bingo card at the popular Platinum Bingo event. Olvera also wanted to remind everyone on upcoming events in October are: Mickey Housley (Oct. 5), Scary Movie Night (Oct. 6), Decorate a Mug (Oct. 12), Board Game Night (Oct. 13), Bingo (Oct. 19), Travel Series: Fright Fest (Oct. 20), Halloween (Oct. 26) and Bowling (Oct. 27). So come out, enjoy some fun games, and get stamped!