The Loper Programming and Activities Council hosted invited students to paint, decorate and personalize paper lanterns for their dorm rooms or to give to a friend last week. The event encouraged creativity while giving students an opportunity to socialize and take part in a hands-on activity designed to increase involvement across campus.
Hailey Truscott, LPAC creative board co-chair, said the organization focuses on hands-on events that allow students to connect with one another.
“We just try and get some involvement around campus for students,” Truscott said. “We mostly focus on make-and-take events or DIY craft items.”
Tables were set up throughout the atrium, lined with paper lanterns, paint, stickers and inspirational design examples for students who needed ideas. By 5:25 p.m., five minutes before the event officially began, students had already begun filling seats and getting crafty.
“It is really satisfying to make stuff and keep it,” said Samantha Bursew, a junior chemistry major.
LPAC is a student-funded organization that receives $5 from each student’s fees every semester to support campus programming. The funding allows the council to host free events and activities for students throughout the academic year.
Truscott said that putting that money toward student involvement is the main goal of LPAC, as the members of the organization work to create opportunities for students to engage outside of the classroom.
In addition to smaller creative nights, LPAC is in charge of putting on several large campus traditions, such as Homecoming Week, the spring concert and Stuff-a-Plush, a popular annual event where students can create their own stuffed animals.
“One that I really enjoy is Stuff-A-Plush every year,” said Joselyn Moreno, a junior multimedia major.
Moreno said LPAC’s variety of programming helps attract different groups of students across campus.
“Their events are open to anybody and they always do a wide variety of events,” Moreno said. “It is never the same thing, so there is always something new to try.”
Throughout the evening, students continued arriving to decorate lanterns while listening to music and chatting with friends. Some carefully painted designs, while others covered their lanterns in stickers and bright colors.
Several students said events like Paper Lantern Night help relieve stress from classes while offering a creative outlet.
LPAC’s overall mission is to draw students into campus life and help build a sense of community at UNK. By hosting both large-scale events and smaller creative activities, the organization aims to provide something for everyone
“It is just a really fun activity to do,” Bursew said. “It is always really nice to get to do something where you can do it with other people, and crafting stuff is always just really fun.”
Paper Lantern Night was one of several creative-focused events LPAC plans to host throughout the semester as part of its effort to continue bringing students together.
Photos by Maddux Essex / Antelope Staff
