By Francisco Velazquez
As the fall semester moves into full swing, finding moments to slow down and build meaningful connections is essential for college life. On Thursday, October 1, the Division of Student Affairs hosted its first-ever Home on the Red Cedar: Student Affairs Fall Welcome at the MSU Multicultural Center. Designed as an inclusive, high-energy gathering, the event brought together several hundred students with divisional staff for an afternoon centered around community, relaxation, and fun.
Rather than a traditional resource fair, the event was intentionally structured to give students a break as academic demands begin to pick up toward midterms. Attendees enjoyed live music from IMPACT89 FM, chair massages, cider, donuts, iced coffee, arts and crafts, and letter-writing stations to send messages to loved ones back home. Students also received gift bags with information on important resources and other helpful items like hygiene products. The event's main objective was simple: put the division’s tagline into action by showing up for students: Belong. Engage. Thrive. Lead.
"For me, this event was really about creating space for students to simply be," said Kim Steed-Page, Associate Vice President for Inclusive Access and Belonging, who led the event's charge. "This point in the semester coursework picks up and can be busy, stressful, and sometimes overwhelming, so we wanted to offer a place where students could slow down, connect with others, and feel a sense of belonging. My hope is that they felt welcomed, connected, and maybe even made a new friend."
Planning committee members and divisional executive assistants, Kristi Porell and Lauren Dyer, highlighted the collaborative effort across departments like the Dean of Students (DOS), Inclusive Access and Belonging (IAB), and University Health and Wellbeing (UHW). Porell said she enjoyed seeing how much the students enjoyed the event, which made the planning and preparation worthwhile.
Dyer agrees, citing positive feedback: “One student mentioned that they loved being able to craft fall decor for their room because they missed how their mom decorates their house for every season. Another student commented, ‘I really needed this today,’ which made us feel happy that we were able to provide the space.”
Students indeed felt the impact of those efforts firsthand. Neuroscience sophomore Jada Weaver appreciated the chance to step away from midterms, noting, "I thought it was very nice, very well put together. I think it serves its purpose of having students come and be able to take time away from midterms and just relax."
Fourth-year interdisciplinary studies in social science student, Abigail Bermudez-Martinez was similarly impressed by the approachable way resources were highlighted. "It looks like they're putting more efforts to share the resources that we have here at MSU," Bermudez-Martinez said. "When they did this event and made it more of a fun, relaxing way to get with one another... it was eye-opening for me."
By creating a welcoming space outside the classroom, Student Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to student well-being, leaving attendees with a lasting reminder that MSU is a place where every student truly belongs.