The Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union Ballroom’s atmosphere transformed into a mix of competition, throwback hits and student conversation on Thursday, March 19 at the Student Activities Association’s Music Bingo, a campus event designed to bring students together through familiar songs and friendly competition.
Instead of calling out numbers, the game relied on music recognition. Students marked bingo cards as songs played across a range of genres and themes, from pop hits to older classics, while rounds moved quickly between laughter, singing and calls of “bingo” from tables across the room.
For some students, the event offered a familiar activity with a new twist. For others, it was an opportunity to spend time with friends in a casual campus setting. Cerrito Entertainment facilitated the event, a company that has worked with campus programming recently for both trivia and music-based events.
“This is a new thing that we’re doing this year,” Sam Graves, a senior and exercise science major and co-director for SAA’s homecoming branch, said. “We have a vendor that has come in and offered to do some trivia nights and music bingo nights throughout the semester, and this is the first one that we’ve coordinated. We’re really, really excited about it.”
As student organizations and the University of Mississippi continue to look for ways to encourage campus involvement outside the classroom, events like Music Bingo have become one way to create low-pressure spaces for students to meet one another and participate in campus life.
“Student engagement is the biggest thing,” Graves said. “Especially as a freshman, it can be kind of hard to find your group. SAA’s whole purpose is ‘for students, by students.’”
Madison Carroll, a freshman elementary education major, said she returned to Music Bingo after attending an earlier version of the event during SAA’s Welcome Week.
“I enjoyed spending time with my friend and listening to the music,” Carroll said. “I found it really memorable getting my picture taken by the host since I won twice in one round.”
Other students pointed to the playlist itself as one of the strongest parts of the evening. Ashton Castro, a senior psychology major, said the themed rounds kept the game engaging.
“The music selection was fun,” Castro said. “I enjoyed the themes specifically but also the prizes.”
One song in particular stood out during the event for Castro when “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” by the Four Tops played during a themed round built around songs with parenthetical titles.
“I got really excited because of a personal connection with that song,” Castro said.
While the event centered on entertainment, students and organizers alike described it as part of a larger effort to strengthen campus community.
“These events are important, as they create a fun, safe and accessible space for students to participate in activities,” Castro said.
Carroll agreed, saying campus events like Music Bingo give students opportunities to connect beyond their normal circles.
“It gives people a chance to come together and make friends with one another,” Carroll said.
For many of the event’s attendees and organizers, Music Bingo represents what the university is all about.
“The things I’m going to remember most about Ole Miss are the memories I made with my friends,” Graves said. “I really do think that what makes Ole Miss the most special is the people.”
