The Campus Center finally became a place of student life, Friday, October 22 at Synergy. Using the whole building, this first of its kind and biggest event in UMass Boston history, began at 8:30 p.m. and ended whenever you felt like you wanted it to end. Aiming to strengthen the UMB community, Synergy was intended for UMB students and other interested parties. There were bands, DJs, and even massage therapists. Several Student organizations, like the Asian American Student Center, Casa Latina, and Haitian-American Society, were present. About 30 UMB students worked to plan the event. The success of Synergy was made possible by the support of the office of Student Life (Bob Cole and Jain Rudavich), the ARMS Center, the Women’s Center, the Black Student Center, the Student Senate, Stars Program, and Liliana Mickle of the Admissions Office who introduced their new A-Team Ambassadors Program. “Synergy,” according to the organizers, means:

1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that the combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. 2. Cooperative interaction among groups, particularly among acquired subsidiaries or merged parts of a corporation that creates an enhanced combined effect.

Indeed, uniting people from inside and outside UMB, “Synergy” was certainly the appropriate word to describe the evening. Approximately 300 people “synergized” through the white looming Campus Center walls. As soon as attendees stepped into the building, the combining sounds of a brass section, guitars, drums, and vocals surrounded them. Composed of nine members, the Ujamaa Band performed throughout the University Room Terrace. The Ujamaa Band consisted mainly of UMB students who had worked for two weeks to appear for this event. “This is a great opportunity,” Ujamaa Band commented on the event, “we can show the talent, talk with outside communities and bring back students to the campus.” The Ballrooms in the Campus Center turned into massage rooms, lounges with drinks and food, and there was also a dance floor featuring DJs. At approximately 11:20 p.m., the African Hut Club spiced-up the dance floor exciting the audience with a native dance. The attractive show was the result of an entire week of strenuous practice in midst of the dancers’ college schedules. “This [event] is really great, and it’s a great place to show student clubs to other people,” said a performer as he hurried back to the dance floor to continue the fun. “The idea of Synergy emerged during the summer break, and it started the process in September,” stated Sawandi Cassell, President of Synergy Student Organization. It seemed good timing for people who consider UMB a learning place during the semesters to have another perspective of UMB. The Admissions Office, in fact, hosted an Open House the following day, thus the timing couldn’t be better, except for those who have mid-term exams the following week. Reflecting over the event, Kidani Abadi, vice president of the Synergy Student Organization, commented that they hoped to have another Synergy event in late November of this year. An obstacle the organizers ran into was that the Crystal Transport bus did not arrange to have a special schedule to accommodate the event. The bus ended up running every twelve minutes and stopped at the usual time of 10:30 p.m. “That is the one thing that we neglected,” Cassell agreed, regretfully. “That is one of tasks we want to improve for the next time”. Synergy was a well-planned event that definitely had potential to connect the inside and outside communities making students more rooted to the campus. Organizers hope that Synergy will be a monthly event for the UMB community.