Messina Calendar of Events Spring 2026

Saturday, January 17th

Duckpin Bowling at Stoneleigh Lanes

Messina has rented out an entire local bowling alley for students to come and learn one of Baltimore's finest traditions, duckpin bowling! Come play and learn what makes this game a little different than regular bowling. Shoes will be provided at the bowling alley as well as all games you can play before they close. We will also be providing pizza and unlimited sodas. Bring your Messina classmates, roommates, friends or come by yourself and meet new friends!

A shuttle bus will pick-up students outside Boulder once at 7:45pm and another at 8:15pm. A bus will take students back to campus at 9:45pm and another at 10:15pm

Students need to register in advance as there is a 80 person capacity limit at the bowling alley. Students will sign-in on the Bridge when boarding the shuttle.

For more information, please email messina@loyola.edu.

Sponsored by Messina
8pm - 10pm at Stoneleigh Lanes

Monday, January 26th

MLK Convocation

Please join us on Monday, January 26th from 6:30pm-8pm in McGuire Hall as we welcome Dr. Carla Hayden to deliver the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation address. The topic, "Protecting Public Knowledge Spaces," will be moderated by Karsonya Wise Whitehead, Ph.D., the founding director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice and a professor of Communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola.

This event is part of the Peace & Justice Bunting Speaker Series and is free and open to the public, although advance registration is encouraged.

Celebrating its 33rd year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation is an opportunity for Loyola and the Baltimore community to come together and launch the spring semester and New Year with a shared inquiry into issues of social justice, politics, spirituality, and the legacies of race and racial justice in America.

The convocation is co-sponsored by the Office of the President, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Office of Peace & Justice, the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice, Messina, and the African and African American Studies Program.

The event will also be live-streamed on YouTube, with closed captioning provided.

6:30pm - 8:00pm, McGuire Hall

Wednesday, February 11th

Friday, February 13th

Douglass Day

Join us Friday, February 13, 2026 in the Humanities Café to honor abolitionist and civil rights leader Frederick Douglass.

From 10:00-12:00: Get Educated - Win an Uber Eats gift card or other prizes playing Black history trivia and viewing Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches, a film featuring Colman Domingo and Jeffrey Wright. 

From 12:00-3:00: Help Make History - Participate in a nationwide transcribe-a-thon, a crowdsourced archival project that makes digitized documents such as handwritten letters and newspaper clippings accessible to researchers. No experience or prior skills are necessary. All you need to do is bring your laptop! Go to Douglass Day.org for more details 

Please contact messina@loyola.edu with any questions.

Sponsored by Messina and the English Department
Humanities Cafe, 10am to 3pm

TENTATIVE Thursday, February 19th

The third event in the Hound Cup series, this game-show style event will pit our residence halls against each other as they battle it out to answer questions live. Register to be a game show participant through your Area Coordinator or register on the Bridge if you'd like to be an audience member.

Monday, March 16th

Common Text Keynote with Angie Kim

Author of our common text, Happiness Falls, Angie Kim will be on-campus having a facilitated discussion followed by a Q & A segment from audience members. There will be an opportunity after the keynote to get your copy of Happiness Falls signed. 

This event will be livestreamed and recorded if your Messina students are unable to attend in person. 

Contact messina@loyola.edu with any questions or concerns.

Sponsored by Messina
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. in McGuire Hall
Book signing at 7 p.m. following Keynote

Thursday, March 19th

Baltipreneurs Demo Day is a shark tank-style pitch event showcasing 8 - 12 ventures participating in Loyola's accelerator program for early-stage startups. Founders include Loyola students, faculty, staff, and local Baltimore community members. Ventures are from a variety of industries including social enterprises and nonprofits and founders are visionaries seeking positive change for their communities and world through innovation. This event inspires students with what is possible with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to solving problems and creating change. We are particularly excited to welcome first-year students to this event to open their eyes to the many resources and co-curricular programs available surrounding innovation & entrepreneurship, so that they may continue to explore I&E throughout their time at Loyola and potentially pitch their innovations at a future showcase or competition! Students will hear from and connect with founders and supporters of Baltimore's dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and learn about opportunities to engage with local startups through the Simon Center and other Loyola organizations.

Contact messina@loyola.edu with any questions or concerns.

Sponsored by the Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the Sellinger School of Business, & Messina
6:00pm -8:00pm in McGuire Hall

Wednesday, March 25th

One Question

One Question is an interactive event designed to help the audience envision a world where we see ability rather than disability. The event combines a short film, "What Makes You Happy?" with a panel discussion and some additional activities that incorporate the audience, so that they become part of the event rather than passively receiving information. The event centers on our neighbors with disabilities, and our panel usually consists of four to six individuals with disabilities who share stories about their lives and answer questions from the audience. The goal is to raise awareness about our neighbors with disabilities and our relationship with them—to envision a world where we see potential and ability first. 

Please register on the Bridge to ensure a seat. Please contact messina@loyola.edu with any questions.

Sponsored by the Writing Department & Messina
7:00pm - 8:30pm, 4th Floor Program Room

TBD March

Join us for a screening of the Baltimore-based movie, Hairspray, followed by a discussion centering around race, size, and justice. There will be popcorn and other movie snacks.

Please register on the Bridge. Please contact messina@loyola.edu with any questions.

Sponsored by the Thrive Center for Student Success & Messina
Time and Date TBD
Center for Intercultural Engagement (3rd floor of Student Center above Boulder 2.0)

TENTATIVE Saturday, April 18th

The fourth and final event in the Hound Cup series, this classic Field Day event will pit our residence halls against each other as they battle it out to take home one epic trophy. See the full liost of events on the Bridge. Register on the Bridge to participate in any one of these events.

TBD April

The Human Library is a global, educational movement where people can "check out" and explore another human's story and identity (referred to as "books") through listening and conversation aimed to break down barriers, stereotypes, and prejudices. This will work like a traditional library as interested "readers" will come in to the third floor of the Student Center, see what "books" are available, and check them out for a brief time. Volunteer "books" will be students, faculty, and staff sharing stories on topics like religious identity, immigration, sexual identity, etc. allowing "readers" to ask questions and gain first-hand understanding to help promoting empathy and diversity.

Please register on the Bridge. Please contact messina@loyola.edu with any questions.

Sponsored by the Thrive Center for Student Success, Campus Ministry, & Messina
Time and Date TBD
3rd floor of the Student Center