Emilie Lynch

A majority of our small group plus a few other ULN members went to the Longhorn Lights Out event to build community and help save resources. We were assigned a building to go and turn out lights and unplug appliances in. We participated in competitions via social media also. Overall, it was a growing experience for our small group and fellow ULN members.

I helped table for the Gender and Sexuality Center on campus for multiple events. I love helping the GSC out by doing this because I get to help queer students find their place on campus. I think tabling also helps create awareness of queer issues because people stop to ask questions and I give them clarity on certain topics and organizations. I interacted with people interested in queer studies, organizations, and the GSC in general. I answered their questions, signed them up for the list-serve, and advertised for the GSC.

I attended Longhorn Lights out. We got into groups and were given a building to go and turn out the lights in. My group also won the most creative social media video advertising the lights out event.

We filled out notecards for boxes to be packaged. We also inspected frozen meat and other frozen foods to see if they were spoiled. All together we sorted and packaged over 4,000 pounds of frozen goods which produced 3,000+ meals for the Austin area.

I volunteered with 40 Acres Fest for my student organization, Collaborative Artists. We gave free henna and collected tips. Overall, it was a tiring, but fun event in which I was able to let my creativity flow, but also help out an organization that I love.