Around 20 students ran and jumped around the stage of the Conaway Center in the 1104 S. Wabash Ave. building on Friday, Oct. 9, playing games designed to build teamwork and communication as part of Columbia’s third annual Kindness Week.
Liberty-Bell Dale, the president of the Improv Club, said the event gave members an opportunity to strengthen their connections as a group.
“Every Improv Club, we play a few games, and this week we wanted to pick team building games that could really bond everybody together as a group,” said Dale, a senior comedy writing and performance major. “We like to focus a lot on community building, and Kindness Week is a great opportunity to really take the time to focus on that.”
Kindness Week was initiated in 2025 by former Student Government Association President Jenna Davis, who graduated last spring.
“It started as a week to just be kind, and emphasize showing yourself kindness, and then exuding that onto others,” said Michael Kowalkowski, vice president of finance for SGA.
He said this semester’s celebration highlighted how to show compassion both to yourself and to others.
Kindness Week this year featured a food pantry collection, a hot takes night hosted by the Black Student Union, a co-op board game night organized by the Board Game Club and SGA’s Blood Drive.
Dale said she was excited that her club was chosen to hold the closing event for the week.
“We got chosen for Friday’s event, and we were super excited to have been chosen because we love the message of Kindness Week,” Dale said.
Hunter Gill, vice president of the Improv Club, said the club has always tried to be inclusive.
“We’re really just continuing on with that sort of feeling for Kindness Week by working together and making sure everyone feels welcome,” said Gill, a senior comedy writing and performance major.
It was only Teagan Kluetzman’s second time working with the Improv club, but the sophomore comedy writing and performance major said she really felt the support of the club.
“I don’t know a lot of people here, but it was fun,” Kluetzman said. “We had a great time, everyone was laughing, everyone is really supportive all of the time.”
Copy edited by Camila Verzino
