University of Maryland-Baltimore County Top Questions

What are the most popular student activities/groups?

Connie

There are a few general organizations that everyone knows about that have events almost every week. The only group I've been consistently involved in all three years is the UMBC Freedom Alliance, which has weekly meetings and small events throughout the years, as well as larger, campus-wide crazy fun events for National Coming Out Day Week in October, Transgender Day of Remembrance in November, World AIDS Day in December, Pride Week and the Day of Silence in April, and a drag show in May. We're UMBC's connection to outside activism and a supportful community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and ally community on campus. Athletic events -- the only reason anyone would ever stay here on a weekend. Guest speakers are pretty popular when well advertised; last fall's second theatre production, "Threepenny Opera," was sold out every night. Yearly campus events include Involvement Fest, which is basically an organization fair for new students to find organizations they're interested in and is held in the beginning of each semester; and Quadmania, a small-scale carnival type of thing. The amount of partying depends on your group of friends, but there's always something somewhere. If I'm awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, I'm probably finishing a project for class or out somewhere with friends. Fraternities/sororities sometimes have bake sales. That's about all I know about them. Last weekend I was working. When I'm off campus, I'm working. If it's Saturday and I'm not drinking, I'm working. Or maybe sleeping.

Avah

SEB is very very popular. They plan all sorts of events for the school. If youre looking for a party you can find one. You have to go out of your way to look for them sometimes but there is always something to do on campus.

Benjamin

Living on campus is the most important thing freshman students can do to enhance the rest of their college experience and ensure that they are engaged in campus events and with other students throughout the rest of their college experience. Living in the dormitories on campus is a great experience because it gives you the opportunity to mingle with other people who are new to the scene. The Student Events Board is a campus organization (mostly comprised of students) that offers all kinds of social activities on a daily basis. These have included concerts, carnivals, games nights, movies on the big screen and other events. Quadmania, their biggest event of the year is held each spring. Quadmania is an all day carnival featuring food, carnival rides and games, prizes, giveaways and promotions. The festival concludes with a concert in the Retriever Activity Center fieldhouse featuring a national touring act. Past shows have headlined Taking Back Sunday, Kanye West, All American Rejects, and T Pain. Individual departments and student organizations also promote their independent efforts (theater, speakers, concerts) that often cater to a more selective audience. UMBC has a Mardi Gras themed pub featuring a selection of beer on tap. In addition to providing drinks, Flat Tuesdays also has a stage and soundboard for hosting musical acts. If your not old enough to drink at the pub, you can easily find a party on a Friday or Saturday night or any other night of the week for that matter. Everyone plays beer pong.