Student government hosts Support a Belle, Love a Belle Week

Saint Mary's Student Government Association (SGA) is hosting Support a Belle, Love a Belle Week. The week aims to uplift the students and bring the community together. 

Social concerns co-chairs Katie Hunter and Katelyn Sizemore, who are responsible for planning events such as Support a Belle, Love a Belle Week, said they hope to promote compassion among students/

“Our committee is in charge of different activities that benefit students such as mental health awareness and sexual assault awareness. We also planned other events like Suicide Awareness Week this year. This whole week is Support a Belle, Love a Belle Week and it’s about supporting each other, finding love for our community, and just being here for each other as students,” Hunter said.

Each day of the week has different events spanning all day so different students can attend the events. Monday morning was a Chick-fil-A breakfast to give students a “pick-me-up” before finals. Students gathered to make friendship bracelets Tuesday and talk with other attendees.

Other organizations like Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO) and Callisto, Support for Survivors and Friends of Survivors, are other sponsors of these events.

On Wednesday, students sent Bellegrams full of stickers, nail polish, candy and phone wallets to their friends. On Thursday, BAVO and Callisto are holding tabling sessions where the groups will answer questions about Title IX, in addition to a poster session where students can make posters about what they love about being a Belle. Finally, on Friday students can participate in a build-your-own-bouquet "self-love event," Hunter said.

The week is not only for supporting Belles but it's also a way to relieve stress while studying for finals and being able to join together with other students and friends, Sizemore said. 

“It’s really just to highlight what students love about being here and building the community and the sisterhood. We kind of wanted to do it the week before finals because it gives you something to look forward to. We know it’s a stressful time for everyone,” Sizemore said. 

SGA collaborates with multiple clubs and organizations throughout the year during their events. Some organizations like Morgan’s Message, a club that advocates for ending the stigma around mental health, are also hosting similar events this week.

“One more thing about this week is that Morgan’s Message is hosting a mental health talk on Friday at 12:30 and so that’s another thing that’s going to be featured this week. We are working with them for this event on Friday,” Hunter said. 

Next semester the group is planning to host different events to bring awareness to different issues in the community and support different causes. One of them is the Period Project, which aims to give out free menstrual products at the school. 

“Just as a sneak peek, we’re doing the Period Project, it’s going to be like a Bridgerton tea party and we’re also doing Love Your Body week. We haven’t been able to plan them yet but they are in the works,” Sizemore said. 

The group wants to collaborate with more clubs and organizations that hold the same ideals so they can plan more events. 

“We’re always open to more collaborations if any clubs want to reach out to us and they have really good messages about body positivity, mental health, and sexual assault awareness,” Hunter said.