By Bradley Radu / Staff Writer 

For students arriving on campus, finding a place where they feel comfortable can be just as important as finding their classrooms.

BelongBQ, a dinner and hangout event hosted by Student Activities, gives both new and returning students an opportunity to meet others, spend time with friends and build a sense of community on campus. As one of the university’s tradition nights, the event is centered on a simple message: “You have a place here!”

James Rowlett, director of Student Activities, said that message is especially important for students who may be adjusting to life away from home.

“A tradition night like this with BelongBQ is showing the students that they have a place here at Valley, even though they might be far away from home.” Rowlett said. 

That feeling of belonging can come from something as simple as having familiar people nearby.

Candace Alobby, a sophomore, attended BelongBQ with a large group of friends. For her, the relationships students build at events like BelongBQ are what make them meaningful.

“I would just say the friendship, the bonds, the people you get to hang out with, that’s the most important thing,” Alobby said.

She said being surrounded by people students know and can relate to can transform an unfamiliar place into somewhere that feels more like home.

“You can go somewhere and you may not feel at home because there are no people you know,” Alobby said. “But when there are people around you and people that you know and who you relate with very well, it feels really special.”

BelongBQ provides a space for those connections to form. Between dinner, conversations and time spent with friends, students have an opportunity to connect outside of classrooms and their regular schedules.

For new students, those connections can help make an unfamiliar campus feel smaller. For returning students, the event provides another opportunity to reconnect with friends and welcome others into the community.

Ultimately, BelongBQ is about more than sharing a meal. It is about reminding students that whether they arrived on campus with a group of friends or far away from everyone they know, they do not have to experience university alone.

They belong to Valley.