In the drive to make the Kent community a better place, Kent State University’s undergraduate student government (USG) is set to start its Week of Kindness the week of March 4.

The week-long mission is centered around a Kent State student’s well being and mental health, along with completing acts of kindness for the student body. The event is placed in the spring semester as a refresher for the students to recognize their hard work over the spring semester. It is also placed to give the students a chance to be in the moment and enjoy the events USG puts on for them.

Juliana Buonaiuto, the student body president of Kent State University, is leading the charge along with Sage Mason, head chair of the USG Student Wellness Committee, to make this year’s Week of Kindness even more memorable and impactful than years prior. 

“One of our top priorities as an organization is to make sure we are putting on programming and hosting events that bring joy to students and have the wellness, wellbeing and mental health of students in mind,” Buonaiuto said.

Buonaiuto expressed her enthusiasm and excitement for the upcoming event and explained why the Week of Kindness is so important to her.

“I think by the spring semester, students are really feeling the drawl, burnout and the fatigue of classes. This point in the spring semester went through the entirety of the fall semester, so I feel what is most important to us is student well-being.” Buonaiuto said.

This is an annual event designed to bring together the Kent State community and foster goodwill throughout the campus. The Week of Kindness has gained some spotlight in recent years, drawing some attention on USG as a whole. 

“Kindness Rocks” is a national viral trend in which people paint small rocks and leave them for other people to find. It’s intended to be a community-building activity that brings joy and spreads kindness. This was an event that took place on Kent State’s campus in the past year and has also made an impact on Kent State’s Week of Kindness.

The Week of Kindness encompasses a wide array of random acts of kindness that are similar to those from years past.  

“This year we are bringing back our flagship event, which is paint and puppies. It is an instructor-led paint class with the puppies of Freedom Paws, so service dogs are in training, they are socializing, and we are painting, and it is all around one of the best events of the week,” Buonaiuto said.

Buonaiuto said that they are including some new activities throughout the week, such as Zumba classes. She also expressed her excitement for the new events.

“It is going to be very, very fun, and I am excited for this year to see the new ones and see how they do,” Buonaiuto said. USG encourages students to come to their kindness filled event to boost their midterm happiness.

Riley Vickerts is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].