By Hailey McConnell
Creating a space where students can express themselves and connect with not just each other, but also the affinity center, is what the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence (HRC) aimed to do through their Paint and Sip event last week.
This annual event was held in their affinity center this year as an avenue for students to detach themselves from academic stressors and find community, maybe even where it’s unexpected.
“We want more people to feel open in our space and feel comfortable coming in because while it is a space for Black students, it is also a space for everyone, so it helps build our space for everyone,” said Mikayla Ewing, programming coordinator of the Center..
A tour of the center was given at the start of the event, mainly showing where to find certain things. The coordinators also gave a brief overview of the amenities at the center, for instance their message chair corner and library are available to all students. Additionally, the ability to print five free pages a day and take pieces from their free clothes rack is for all students, which they highly encourage students to use.
Students were directed to the canvas and painting supplies that were available to use when creating their art pieces. The around 35 attendees were scattered throughout the affinity center, some were on beanbags while others were occupying the four desks.
“Specifically ‘cause I am a commuter student, I kinda feel more isolated,” said Gindale Smith, a third-year sociology major. “So being on campus and having something that, ‘OK I can decompress here and still study later on,’ that is a really good outlet to me.”
Along with the paints, there were an assortment of refreshments on the back wall, such as sparkling pink lemonade and fruit water for attendees to enjoy while they were painting. Additionally snacks were available, ranging from nachos to cookies for everyone to access as the event carried on.
Attendees were painting a variety of different art pieces throughout the two-hour event and while they were there the room was filled with sounds of chatter from different groups of people and music playing on the TV in the background.
“I am painting sort of a sunset, I found it off Pinterest,” said Kamryn Fleck, a first-year environmental science major. “I find painting and events like this on campus often and they are great ways to de-stress.”