SPAGHETTI CACIO E PEPE
Student Activities Council
A Student Leadership Organization
Student activities council (SAC)
is the student leadership organization at OU in Arezzo that allows students the opportunity to stay involved, even while studying abroad. The officers and members of SAC plan traditional and new activities and events for #OUASooners and community members. The aims of SAC are to give students a voice within their program and to connect them with the community through service and engagement.
My involvement with SAC allowed me the opportunity to grow as an individual through a leadership role. As the VP of Community and Outreach, I was responsible for strengthening the bond between OUA and Arezzo residents through various events and community service activities. I really enjoyed my time with SAC and am applying the skills I’ve gained through that experience in my daily interactions.
Kennedy Pipkin:
Spring 2019
The most unique aspect of SAC is that it changes from semester to semester, as each student group selects their own initiatives.
Student Activities Council Annual Traditions
HALLOWEEN PARTY for local children
Valentine's day festivities
International festival with the community
Student Activities Council Yearly Traditions
Student Activities Council Stories
The International Food Festival
by Kinlee Allen
Fall 2021
The International Food Festival celebrates the wide range of cultures that make up OUA’s current student body for that semester. It started a couple years ago as a way to bring students together the week before Thanksgiving and rather than just celebrating the culture of the United States, OUA wanted to bring awareness to all cultures. It is also really exciting because any student can participate!
This year was no different. About half of our students this semester are international. They come from places like Mexico, Armenia, Uganda and Spain. As an homage to their culture we asked the volunteer participants to select a side dish that was a part of their culture. Leading up to the day of the festival, participants would be scheduled to cook their dish and create a poster for their dish or country as well.
We invited friends and family of OUA’s staff as well as students from the local university. The Great Hall was decorated with a balloon arch, banners, and multicolored fans. The students who chose to participate were gathered in the Mensa where there were an array of flags from all over the country. Each student would serve the guests and talk a little bit about their dish. For example one of our students, Daphne Bigelow, chose to make a German cookie called “Zimtsterne”. She said, “it was really nice because it was therapeutic to make it and know that you are doing this to show other people your culture and something that means a lot to you and the people around you. My cookies are made during Christmas and the holidays so it was nice to bring people joy and happiness.”
We are so thankful for all of our participants and hope to do it again next year!
Halloween Party at the Rooney Family Center
by Kinlee Allen
Fall 2021
This year, OUA’s Student Council Activities board decided to create a Halloween event for the students of OUA as well as the staff. The Co-Vice Directors of Programming, Lauren McDermott and Torey Henderson, had spent over two weeks planning this Halloween event. They wanted to incorporate some activities such as corn hole and a fire pit. Working alongside their committee, they also decided to play a movie outside in the courtyard and have many snacks from local businesses. On day the day of the event, orange, white, and black balloons were featured as centrepieces as well as some spooky faces and eight legged creatures on white fabric.
As the sun faded away, a beautiful video of a jack-o-lantern was displayed on the wall of the courtyard bringing the spookiness of Halloween into full swing. Students started arriving in their costumes. We had everything from Timothee Chalamet and Pete Davidson from Saturday Night Live to a gothic pumpkin to vampires! Our students enjoyed listening to music and sitting around the fire while waiting for more guests to arrive.
Throughout the night, the Adam’s Family film was played as well as some Just Dance to keep the crowd entertained! We even had some trick or treaters pass by the monastery and we got to hand out some candy. One of our students, Victoria said that “we all had such a fun time at the Halloween party at the monastery. There were a bunch of snacks, music playing, a camp fire, and so much fun! Lots of people dressed up and it was amazing to see everyone’s creativity. Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I was getting a little homesick but I felt right at home the whole time!”
#WayBackWednesday
by Leanna Payton (OUA Center Coordinator)
Spring 2021
As we approach the Easter holiday, I have a #WayBackWednesday post to share. Easter in Italy, or Pasqua, is a major national holiday and spring semester students use this opportunity to celebrate. For example, a few semesters ago the Student Activities Council organization planed a spring festival day with local kids and invited them to the Rooney Family Center for activities. They played outdoor games, provided chocolate, an easter egg hunt, and more. Events like this creates positivity amongst the student group with community members and gives both an opportunity to have exposure to a culture and language different from their own. It’s a special experience for students and locals in Arezzo.
In some spring semesters our OUA Sooners also visit with local nursing home residents during the days leading up to the Easter holiday. Across the street from the Rooney Family Center is a nursing home and students have made greeting cards for them in the past and delivered flowers. This experience is unique for OUA students and is nice for the nursing home residents.
We can’t wait to celebrate Easter at #OUinArezzo next year! In the meantime, Buona Pasqua!
Murder mystery party
February 28, 2020
#ouinarezzo and secretary, Maddie, said, “We decided to have a surprise party for everyone, and a murder mystery was a great way for people to have fun and get rid of stress from the week!” What a fun group of students
#ouaspring20 is this semester! #ouasac @ouabroad @oucis
service and sweets
February 13, 2020
Buon San Valentino from #ouinarezzo! You could feel the love this week! 😍 SAC members made cards for residents of a local nursing home. Everyone celebrated the holiday with a gathering that involved painting and, of course, plenty of fun and sweets! #ouaspring20 #ouasac
Streaming Dr. Bernice King's speech with the community
February 20, 2020
Tonight at #ouinarezzo we were pleased to host an event of the re-broadcasting of the recent speech at #ouhsc by Dr. Bernice King, daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Along with the
#ouaspring20 group, local students and families also joined us to watch the presentation. The live event was sponsored by the African-American Student Association at the OU HSC as a part of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week. Those who were able to attend, thank you! Congratulations to our SAC for a successful event. #ouasac @hscstudent @uofoklahoma
Celebrating with Exclusive OUA swag
December 13, 2019
#ouafall19 Student Activities Council (SAC) students are taking these sweatshirts home with them as a way to always remember their time in #Arezzo! This semester's sweatshirt was designed by fall semester student Carson. It’s a nice souvenir for their study abroad experience! #ouinarezzo
International Festival
November 15, 2019
It was a great evening yesterday celebrating cultural diversity at #ouinarezzo! We started the International Festival last year and this semester’s also incorporated a lot of food from several countries and performances by students and local artists in Arezzo. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped. It was a beautiful night! We will post all of the photos next week, so be sure to check-back in on our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. #ouafall19 #featurefriday
