Shippensburg University students gathered in the CUB MPR on Sept. 30 to play plant bingo, hosted by SU’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) club.
Students had the opportunity to win plants, big or small, for their dorm. NAMI saw a larger turnout than expected, printing more bingo cards for students as they came in to participate in the games.
Upon walking in, students were given one bingo card along with sticky tabs to cover each number. The event began with three rounds of traditional bingo, with the small plants as prizes. The small plants were succulents, and members of NAMI gave out the names of the plants to those who won them.
After three rounds of traditional bingo, the rounds became “special” bingo rounds, consisting of speed rounds, four corners and an X shape, bringing more competition to the games. The special rounds also had bigger plants as prizes, which consisted of leafy plants of different colors.
The rules of the game were that if a student won a small plant, they could still get a big plant, and if they got a big plant, that student was no longer able to get anything, which made it fair for everyone else playing.
When there was more than one person with a bingo, they conducted a tiebreaker. To break the tie, they called out more numbers until one of the students got it, which sometimes took many tries. As students got more competitive, they got quieter and focused on the numbers in hopes of calling “Bingo!”
The final round, blackout bingo, was the quietest round of them all. Students rushed to fill their numbers in and hoping to be the final winner. After almost all the numbers were called, one person called out, and the games were done.
After the games were over, NAMI members announced that they will be planning another Plant Bingo at the beginning of the spring semester, with even more fun plants and prizes.
“Plants are shown to improve mental health,” said NAMI President Hayley Diehl.
She said they want to encourage a safe space for anyone and everyone to feel welcome, inviting any year or major to join and enjoy the club.
NAMI is always excited about new interest in its club. For any information on the club and events, you can visit its Instagram @shippensburgu_nami.
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