Lasell University opened the fall semester with its first annual Lasell UBelong event - a campus-wide celebration of inclusion - on September 10, 2019.

Food trucks, carnival games, inflatable rides, and music from WLAS filled Arnow Courtyard, where Lasell community members of every ilk, including Lasell Village residents, gathered to kick off the new academic year.

The event came about as a result of the University's strategic planning process, said Jesse Tauriac, assistant vice president and chief diversity officer.

"President Alexander met with several student groups that described how wonderful it was to attend such unifying events as the Senior Soiree and the Spring Carnival," said Tauriac. The students suggested that a similar event in the fall might bring that same feeling of belonging to the campus - and in particular, new students - right at the start of the academic year.

Members of the staff, faculty, Village, and student body shared opening remarks in different languages. Each story detailed why that individual felt a sense of belonging at Lasell University.

Tauriac and Kate Kennedy '20, a senior event management major, collaborated on the event with support from an abundance of campus partners.  Though Kennedy has served as the Campus Activities Board (CAB) president for two years, she had never seen an event of this nature before.

"I'm used to campus programming," she said, "But never on this scale! It was a true honor to be trusted to plan an event of this size."

Whether one planned logistics or attended as a first-year student, all involved with Lasell UBelong were able to experience "the genuine nature of the Lasell community," said Kennedy.

Adds Tauriac: "We wanted to celebrate our transition to Lasell University and the spirit of our community: a place where we want every single student and employee to know that they fully belong and are welcome here."