new semester with some fun at the Winter Block Party at the University of Michigan-Flint University Center.

The third floor of the UCEN was lined with student organization tables providing students with information and recruitment opportunities for Greek societies, club sports, and other student organi-zations such as QUA, the University’s literary journal, and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. On the sec-ond floor of the UCEN, students were able to eat free pizza, make a spin-art Frisbee and receive an air brushed pennant or trucker hat.

Brian Proffer, student activities coordinator for the Office of Student Life took part in much of the Winter Block Party planning.

“We wanted to kick off the winter term just like we kick off the fall term, so that’s why we created the Winter Block Party,” Proffer said.

At the beginning of every fall semester UM-Flint also holds its annual Welcome Back Picnic, which was held outside last year.

“It’s [Winter Block Party] a little smaller because we wanted to stay warm, but yeah, it’s the equivalent,” Proffer said.

According to Proffer, about 46 of the nearly 100 registered student organizations were scheduled to be present.

Beth Lemon, a freshman elementary education major, was present at the Intervarsity Christian Fel-lowship table. She said that the group was a Christian organization, but students did not have to be Christian to join.

“A lot of what we do is either read the Bible and then examine it for ourselves, so that you can get a good idea of what’s in it and if you want to be that or not,” Lemon said.

At the table, students could write their new year’s resolutions on a sticky note and place it on a board.

“We’re asking people, did you make any resolutions? If so, do you want to write them down?” Lemon said. “And then we have the other side here where we’re talking about do you want to be ‘more of these’ or ‘less of these.’”

“More of These” and “Less of These” included phrases such as “More confident” and “Less stressed.”

A long line of students waited for an airbrushed trucker hat on the second floor. Daniel Grasso, junior Spanish and nursing double major, took a break from working at the booth for Students for Free Thought to get an airbrushed hat.

“I think they’re pretty good, I’m glad we’re not outside like we were in the fall,” Grasso said in regards to the activities.

Proffer encouraged students to get involved in a student organization.

“It’s a good time to still join clubs,” Proffer said. “I would say to at least consider it. It’s a great opportunity to network, to get involved, to kind of add a little bit of variety to your education. Jobs and graduate school are all looking for a really good GPA, great classes, but they’re also looking for that little bit extra, that additional experience and lessons that you learn outside of the classroom.”

Lemon shared her experience as a freshman joining a student organization.

“It’s definitely been a good step, because now I actually know people on campus, when I first got here I didn’t know anyone and now I have a whole group of friends,” Lemon said.

Proffer said that he has high hopes for the coming semester. “I hope that people have a lot of fun, I hope that they really enjoy the activities,” Proffer said. “And that we get to see a lot more people added to the rosters of the clubs when they report them to me this term, and just having fun, taking a break out of studying, getting excited for the term, getting pumped up, getting that 3.5 or higher, and all that stuff is kind of what we’re hoping for.”

Brittney can be reached at brittnwa@umflint.edu