The University of North Alabama has begun the school year with a month full of activities and events for new and returning students. An annual tradition, North Alabama’s Mane Month gives opportunities for student and community-focused organizations to help students settle into the academic cycle and connect with the campus and city around them. This year’s edition of Mane Month began on Aug. 15, and will run until Sept. 21.
At the beginning of every school year, Mane Month is responsible for some of the most highly anticipated annual events. Before classes began, Housing & Residence Life, together with the University Program Council, helped produce the annual Playfair. After this, the first week of classes started off with the Lucky Dip at Harrison Fountain, hosted by the Student Government Association on Aug. 21. The second day of classes was just as busy, with Phi Kappa Phi’s Freshman Convocation taking place right before The Big Deal.
“It was a great experience,” says Mason Schraeder, a senior student studying Computer Information Systems. “My favorite part was seeing everybody I haven’t seen since last semester – it was so awesome catching up with everyone.”
Schraeder thinks events like the Big Deal are important to developing a tight-knit campus community.
“Having events like that at the start of the year helps you find clubs and meet all kinds of people,” Schraeder said.
The activities carried on throughout the weekend, as UNA kicked off the collegiate football season with their game against Southeast Missouri State on Aug. 24. The Student Government Association sponsored more than 35 students with tickets to watch the game in-person at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. The Lions would come up short in their season opener, losing 15-37.
On the 25th, both the Catholic and Baptist Campus Ministries hosted events of their own. The CCM held a Mass & Meal at St. Joseph Catholic Church, while the BCM held their Progressive Dinner at several churches in the Shoals area.
Mane Month continues throughout the month of August with events sponsored by a wide variety of on and off-campus organizations–ranging from religious organizations, to a diverse range of clubs and other student groups. Many of these events will be hosted by UNA Housing and Residence Life to help build community within on-campus housing halls.
One of the most notable upcoming events is College Panhellenic Sorority recruitment. CPH Recruitment will begin on Aug. 29, and will continue until Sept. 2. Throughout recruitment, potential new members of CPH affiliated sororities will learn more about the sororities they wish to join, and will seek out bids from these groups.
The remainder of Mane Month will include even more events and activities for students at UNA. On Sept. 2, the BCM will host a Grill-Out in honor of Labor Day. The Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion will host an Anime Night on Sept. 4. UPC will be hosting H2O Day on Sept. 5. UNA Cross Country will host its first home meet on Sept. 7, along with UNA Football’s home opener against Illinois State later on that evening. UNA’s Women’s Soccer team will have their home opener versus the Belmont University Bruisers on Sept. 8. The SGA will host Meet Your Senators on Sept. 10.
The University’s website describes Mane Month as a “…coordination of activities hosted by various organizations, groups and departments across campus during the first month of the fall semester.” Students would be remiss to pass up on the opportunities afforded to them by these events.
