UMass Boston’s Student Activities and Events Center (SAEC) held “Mission Control: UMass Boston and Beyond,” the university’s welcome back week, from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1. An artist hired by SAEC created ice sculptures, including one of an astronaut, for display in the plaza near the Campus Center. 

Featured events included a visit from comedians Marc Lamotte and Kyle Grooms, and the Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party on Jan. 31. The dance party was also a food drive for Campus Kitchens, and students who brought a donation of two canned goods to the dance got in free.

Stephanie Dumesle, a sophomore said, “It’s a nice way to get involved with the student activities here on campus.” Another student added, “It’s a good way to have a few laughs with some friends. It really brings us together.”

SAEC employee and UMass Boston student Izzy Pullido called the event “a way to have fun and get students excited about coming back from a long winter break.”