By Marley Anthony

Assitant Editor

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Student Government hosted ARK Week, or Acts of Random Kindness Week for the second year in a row Feb. 8-13, with four events happening throughout the week.  

ARK Week is celebrated across multiple college campuses and was brought to UMHB last year to promote kindness around campus and show that Student Government is an inviting atmosphere for students. “The purpose of Student Government is to be the bridge between administration and the students,” Student Body Vice President Rachel King said.  

To kick off ARK Week, the SGA held a Prayer Walk on Feb. 8. Starting in Bawcom and making their way around campus, students prayed for the campus and the students and faculty who populate it. “We are called to love one another in a Christian sense,” King said, about how kindness and spirituality work hand in hand. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, the SGA continued ARK Week by hosting a pizza party to celebrate the Cru men’s basketball game against Hardin-Simmons University. After the game, students came together at McLane Great Hall to write letters and enjoy free pizza and cookies. The SGA expected this pizza party to be the largest event for ARK Week and have the largest student reach. “By promoting kindness, it makes [the SGA] feel like a comfortable space for students,” King said. 

The third ARK Week event was Donuts After Chapel. On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the SGA had a booth set up outside Walton Chapel, giving students free donuts after both the 10 and 11 a.m. chapel services. Small acts, such as handing out a free donut, can go a long way, which is what the SGA is trying to advocate for. “Simple things such as saying hello to someone you don’t know or smiling on King Street, [the SGA] is striving to make that more common,” King said, explaining why UMHB’s SGA started hosting ARK Week on campus. 

“We want to promote kindness, we want people to be nice to each other, but also we want students to know we are here for them,” King said, talking about what kindness means to her and the rest of the SGA. On Thursday, Feb. 12, the SGA hosted the final ARK Week event, setting up a table in Bawcom for students to show appreciation to UMHB faculty and staff by writing kindness notes. The SGA took the notes written on Tuesday and Thursday to hand out to staff and faculty.  

Elections for the 2026-2027 school year Student Body president and vice president begin in the spring semester. Students who are running have already started campaigns across campus. To stay informed about the Student Government, check out their Instagram @sga_umhb.