Entertaining Yourself at UMW

How many Mary Washington students does it take to change a light bulb? The entire campus, because there’s nothing else to do.

No matter how good your high school cafeteria’s food actually was, people still complained about it. Same goes for UMW. You’ll quickly learn that no matter how much stuff is actually going on around campus, people will still complain that there’s just nothing to do here. Don’t believe them.

My first week during freshman year, I basically just spent the entire time walking around campus by myself doing absolutely nothing and having awkward meals with my two random roommates. Uncomfortable silences during dinner only get better during the walk back to the room.

That’s why I want you to know about some of the events happening on campus soon. For instance, the band, As Tall As Lions, is playing a free show in Ball Circle next Friday at 5:30 p.m. After listening to a few of their songs on Facebook, they strike me as a more laid back Coldplay. Take your roommates, enjoy the music and make some friends.

Last year, rapper Talib Kweli absolutely tore the roof off of Dodd Auditorium, indie darlings Jukebox the Ghost had a self-conscious crowd at downtown’s Eyeclops Studios bouncing, and rap rockers Gym Class Heroes shook Dodd hard enough that even students studying in Trinkle were bobbing their heads. Good bands come to UMW and downtown Fredericksburg often enough; you just have to be vigilant about keeping up with the schedules.

If you’re looking to get involved in some fun groups, UMW has you covered. Our One Note Stand a cappella singing group will have auditions in duPont room 209 on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., so it’s your chance to finally be able to recreate Lady GaGa’s “Poker Face” using only your voice.

You like making people laugh right? Of course you do! Well, the Undeniably Adjacent, UMW’s improv comedy team, will be having their auditions on Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. upstairs in Trinkle. I’ve been to a handful of their shows and they’re really funny so it’d definitely be a really fun group to join.

If neither of those interest you though, the Club Carnival is on Aug. 25 at 3 p.m. in Ball Circle, so you should easily be able to find something you like. In my freshman year, I joined Latin Dance Club and Fencing Club, getting me that much closer to my life goal of becoming Zorro.

But if you want something a little more immediate, come to the patio just outside of The Underground lounge at Lee Hall on Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for free lemonade, $1 hot dogs, and a chance to win a mountain bike.

What I’m getting at here is that there’s plenty to do at Mary Washington. Keep reading the Bullet and check out our weekly Bullet Points feature and you’ll stay up to date on all the exciting things to do on and off-campus. If you feel like there’s nothing to do here, you just aren’t looking hard enough.