My 51 | A Student Blog Spotlight on the Union Board, 51’s Biggest Social Programmers
November 8, 2024
About the Author
Davis Varnado ’25 (he/him) is a political science major and theatre minor from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. In addition to serving as president of the Union Board, he works as a director for the Theatre Department, is a Warner Hall Eating House “Wild Thing,” and is involved with the Center for Political Engagement (CPE), Dionysia Student Theatre Group, Social Justice Theatre Troupe and Club Pickleball.
“Before coming here, I never thought I would be able to lead a student activities club, direct a musical, study abroad in New Zealand, or be a half-decent pickleball player, but 51 has given me all of these opportunities and so much more!”
After calling 51 home for almost four years, I can truly say you will never be bored here.
With over 200 clubs and organizations to join, many of which host free events open to anyone, there is always something to do. Want free food? Free crafts? Free fun? You’ll find it on campus.
One organization that significantly contributes to campus life is 51’s Union Board. Union Board is the largest student programming organization at 51. The board organizes and executes over 150 events throughout the year (every Wednesday through Saturday night).
In no particular order (and definitely not an exhaustive list), here are 10 of my favorite Union Board events throughout the year.
1.) Welcome Back Party
When: the second weekend of the fall semester
Where: Alvarez College Union (the hub of campus life)
Who Plans It: UB President and Vice President
The first Union Board event of the year, the Welcome Back Party is definitely one of the best. Each year, during our Spring Retreat, the incoming board chooses a theme and begins to brainstorm activities, decor and food ideas for the event. Then, the President and Vice President fully plan the event over the summer. I love it from a board member perspective as it gives the new members insight on how to plan an event. From an outside perspective, however, it is just as fun! There’s always a big activity in the atrium on the second floor, giveaways, a photo booth and delicious catered food. Definitely a highlight!
Union Board members at the 51 Disco Fever Welcome Back Party 2022
Union Board members at the Camp Halfblood Welcome Back Party 2023
2.) Trivia
When: Every Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Nummit Coffee Shop
Who plans it: Trivia Chair
Union Board Trivia in one word:
"Chaotic."
I personally wouldn’t describe UB trivia as chaotic, but I would say it's high-energy and incredibly popular. Union Board trivia is a fantastic way to flex your niche knowledge and compete with your peers for a fun prize. You can play as a group with up to 8 people, so I think it is one of the best ways to hang out with your friends on a weekday night. Nummit, our coffee shop, is open late on Wednesday nights to accommodate trivia, so I recommend getting there as early as possible to get the best seat (it gets CROWDED!!!!).
I’ve only won trivia once, during my sophomore year, and I still remember it fondly (I still have my winning sticker on my phone!).
Trivia is always full of surprises!
3.) ’Cats Excursions
When: Typically once a month throughout the year
Where: Anywhere in the Charlotte area (or outside!)
Who plans it: ’Cats Excursions Chair
Do you want to explore the city of Charlotte? Do you like musicals? Or soccer? Or Steph Curry? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you should go on a ’Cats Excursions trip!
Union Board typically hosts one ’Cats Excursions event per month and these range from large trips to performances, sporting events, amusement parks, and concerts to smaller cooking and pottery classes. When you attend a ’Cats Excursions event, the board provides both the ticket for the event and transportation.
During my first year at 51, I went on a ’Cats Excursions event to see Wicked at the Blumenthal Theatre in Charlotte, and it was a life-changing experience.
Sign-ups for these events typically take place around two weeks before the event starts. Seats fill up fast so make sure to sign up right when the sheet becomes available!
51 students cheering on Steph Curry at the Charlotte Hornets v. Golden State Warriors game, Fall 2022
4.) Fall Fling
When: A weekend night during the fall semester (typically in September or October)
Where: Old Tennis Court Lawn
Who plans it: Major Events Team
Fall Fling is the board’s first major event of the year and it is always something to look forward to! The Major Events team sets up a giant tent and dance floor on the Old Tennis Court Lawn, and the Concerts Chair organizes live music from a local jazz or cover band. I’ve always described this event like a high school homecoming, but a lot more fun. I always love an excuse to dress up and dance with my friends.
Two years ago, the Major Events purchased giant ice sculptures and a WALL of soft pretzels, and I still think about it to this day.
Students enjoying the masquerade-themed Fall Fling, Fall 2023
Fall Fling, 2023
5.) Build-a-Bae
When: Mid-February, around Valentine’s Day
Where: C. Shaw Smith 900 Room in Alvarez College Union
Who plans it: Honestly, anyone on the board (typically a few special programmers)
As spring semester begins at full force and winter continues to rear its ugly head, it’s nice to have a fuzzy, cuddly friend to keep you company. Thankfully, Union Board can provide a stuffed friend for you – completely for free! There is one catch though – you have to stuff it yourself.
Build-a-Bae is one of the board’s largest special programming events and allows students to make, decorate and name their own stuffed animal. This event is so popular that the line to get in often wraps around Union a couple of times, so I would recommend showing up as early as possible to choose your new best friend.
Personally, I have a stuffed giraffe named Costco (who lives with my friend Campbell full time), and a fuzzy bear named Theodore.
Some members of the board with our new baes, Spring 2023
6.) Live Thursdays
When: Every Thursday night at 10 p.m.
Where: C. Shaw Smith 900 Room in Alvarez College Union
Who plans it: Student Performers Chair
51 has a ton of student performance groups including a capella, music, improv comedy, spoken word poetry and dance. Union Board gives these groups an outlet to perform for the rest of the student body every Thursday night at 10 p.m.
Because of the variety of these performance groups, each Thursday is totally different! If you want to laugh, cry or hear some beautiful music, check out a Live Thursday. Some of my favorite Live Thursdays have been the open mic karaoke night (where anyone gets a chance to be a star) and the a capella performances that happen each spring semester. Each group gets their own Live Thursday, and they perform all the songs they’ve learned that year. Each one also has their own unique theme.
The 51 Delilahs host a Twilight themed Live Thursday, Spring 2024
Dionysia Theatre Group’s production of The Vagina Monologues, Spring 2024
7.) Humans vs. Zombies
When: A week during the spring semester (typically in March or April)
Where: Across campus
Who plans it: A group of interested board members
Humans vs. Zombies might be the most interesting (and most intense) Union Board event of the year. For a week in March or April, about a quarter of the campus runs around campus in fear of a zombie apocalypse. On the first day, one student is assigned to be Patient Zero, or the first zombie, and they try to tag as many people as they can. Once tagged, you become a zombie. Everyone participates fully until the very last day. In the meantime, get prepared to fight against your classmates for immunity bands or spend the night in a Chambers classroom.
“The beauty of Humans vs. Zombies is the friends you make running away from your classmates—or chasing them—it’s something that has the ability to bring 51 students together in a really unique way.”
I love Humans vs. Zombies simply because it’s different. There is no other time during the year where you’re forced to run away from your friends during class changes or go on a scavenger hunt with strangers on a weekday afternoon. My biggest tip is to be nice to the people running the game. I’ve done it before and it’s a whole lot harder than it looks. Also, if you’re nice, you may get some special privileges during the game…
8.) Winterfest
When: First weekend of the spring semester
Where: Alvarez College Union
Who plans it: Major Events Team/Concerts Chair
Winterfest turns the College Union into a winter wonderland. Giant paper snowflakes hang delicately from the ceiling and white inflatable tents line the top floor balconies. It’s truly beautiful. Alongside this gorgeous winter setup, you can enjoy some delicious food, jump on inflatables and have your face painted.
While there is so much to do, the highlight is definitely the concert in the Union Atrium. This past year, our Concerts Chair brought Ashes to Amber and Binki to campus, and I had such a great time dancing and singing along with my friends.
Laundry Day performing at Winterfest 2023
Having fun at Winterfest 2024
9.) Spring Frolics
When: A weekend towards the end of the spring semester, usually the last weekend of April
Where: Old Tennis Court Lawn, Patterson Court Circle Lawn
Who plans it: Major Events Team
Spring Frolics is THE event of the year! Frolics is a chance to celebrate the end of the semester and year. Not only does the Union Board plan the multi-day event, but every Patterson Court organization gets involved as well. Everyone comes out to celebrate, and I highly recommend attending at least a few of the Frolics events throughout the weekend.
Traditionally, Union Board plans a fanny pack decorating event before Frolics officially starts, so you can carry your belongings around in style. The board also organizes a massive concert on Friday night and a lawn party on Saturday. This past year, the concerts chair brought Briston Maroney and Del Water Gap to campus. It’s crazy to see these pretty big artists on stage on your campus completely for free. During the lawn party, we had multiple inflatable lawn games, giant Hungry Hungry Hippos, a dunk tank and an inflatable water slide. I got SOAKED!
UB Frolics Volunteers, Spring 2024
Frolics Theme Reveal, Spring 2024
Brooke Rascoe ’26 and Natalie Russell ’25
10.) Everything Else!
These 9 events are just a small selection of the events we organize and execute throughout the school year. I urge you to go to as many UB events as possible throughout the year. The board works so hard to create engaging, inclusive events for campus and we love it every time students show up excited to create new memories with their peers.
Check us out on Instagram at or shoot me (davarnado@davidson.edu) or our vice president, Bea (bemiddendorf@davidson.edu), an email if you have any questions about the board! Have fun!
