Long Beach City College kicked off the fall semester by offering students free food, video games, and resources at the “Welcome Back BBQ” at the LAC on September 1.
Shielding their heads from the heat with their newly acquired textbooks, students formed a long line around the E Quad to receive their choice of a hamburger or a hotdog. The BBQ even offered vegan burgers, grilling veggie patties on a separate grill for students who required a meatless option.
After grabbing a bite to eat, students were free to head over to the gaming truck to play video games or roam the nearby tents to gather information about the school’s clubs and programs.
Many students walked away from these tents with free goodies and information about the resources they qualified for.
“The goal is for students to have a smooth transition in school by providing them with the right resources and making them feel like they belong,” said Karina Rubio, an EOPS program specialist who was at one of the tents. If students didn’t qualify for her program, she would help direct them to a tent that could offer different resources.
The free food and program awareness offered at the BBQ falls in line with the college’s latest agenda to provide an inclusive college experience for all students. Whether they are facing economic disadvantages or just attending college for the first time, all were welcome to benefit from this experience.
The BBQ even inspired some students to join the Associated Student Body, whose members volunteered at this event.
First time LBCC attendee Romeo Jurado, was enjoying his free hot dog and chips when asked about what he thought of the BBQ, he expressed that the event and the people volunteering created a warm welcome to his first year of college.
“I want to join ASB this year, I want to be able to volunteer and feel involved and active in the community,” Jurado said. “In high school I wasn’t able to because everything was still mostly online.”
There is a refreshing sense of student engagement in the school this semester, perhaps due to both lifted pandemic restrictions and the sense of belonging the school’s community is creating.
The “Welcome Back BBQ” was a great way to start the Vikings off this fall; it seems we can expect more activities this semester that will keep our students participating in campus life, and in turn begin to cultivate a new inclusive school culture that follows a global pandemic.