Editor's Note: The Eastern Echo staff meets regularly with interesting people on and off campus. Engage in those conversations with us through our weekly Q&A report. This week, we talked with Lee Hammock, president of the on-campus club Bingo at EMU.
As summer ends and the fall semester begins, new and returning Eastern Michigan University students seek out ways to socialize on campus.
One option is to join one of the many student-led organizations on campus. From astronomy to filmmaking to politics, these organizations allow students to meet peers who share their interests.
Among the newest organizations is EMU's very own bingo club, titled Bingo at EMU. In this Q&A, the organization's president Lee Hammock, who is also a videographer for The Eastern Echo, discusses the founding of the group, how it has grown and what club members hope to see in the future.
Q: Where did the idea for a bingo club at EMU start?
A: We were at the Honors College Fall Fest, and we were playing bingo and I was like, "This is so fun. ... I should make a bingo club!" And then I jokingly went up to my friends and was like "Should I make a bingo club? If I made a bingo club, would you be my vice president?" And then the joke got too far, and the bingo club happened.
Q: Who are the current board members?
A: OK, so, I'm president, my friend Amari Rosenberg is vice president, AnnaBelle Favre is our secretary, Milani Motton is our treasurer, and right now our member at large is Madelyn Makin.
Q: Were you surprised by the turnout when you started this club?
A: Yeah, kinda. ... I was like, "Who's gonna show up to this?" Our first meeting was just friends, then after that we did Eagle-Con, like we had a table there, and then at the meeting after that, there was a bunch more people. I was like, "Oh my gosh, everyone likes bingo!" The other day, when I looked at our social media, it was at, like, 190 followers. I was like, "They like us, they like us!" A lot of people are showing up, which is really good.
Q: What are some of the prizes people can win?
A: Prizes we've had include ... Funko Pops, Legos, craft kits, different figures and stuff. Coming up, we're going to have some Honors College merch as prizes for our event at the Honors College. They're also giving away a dorm essentials and self-care basket.
Q: Where and when do you usually meet?
A: We haven't had a meeting this semester so far. The Honors College event is going to be our kickoff, and then after that we'll be starting off in the Student Center. It's usually there every other Tuesday around 5:30 [p.m.], and the meetings are like an hour.
Q: You mentioned the Honors College event. Do you want to go into that?
A: The Honors College event is Tuesday, Sept. 23. It's a canned food drive. So, if you bring two extra cans, you get an extra bingo card, so more chances to win.
Q: Have you done any events in the past?
A: We did Eagle-Con, which is like Comic-Con but for EMU. They were like, "Anyone who does Eagle-Con gets $200 for their booth," and we were like, "We'll be there!" We might do Pumpkins on the Patio this year.
Q: What was the most interesting game of bingo you had?
A: Ooh, there was one. We were playing a game where you had to have two bingos to win, and everyone was waiting on this one number. After like, 20 minutes, somebody won, and after I'm putting all the things away, and on the floor I see the number that everybody didn't have. It wasn't in the cage! I was like "Oh my gosh, Amari..." Amari was like, "Shut up, shut up! Just put it back in!" It wasn't one of our prize meetings, so thank goodness.
Q: (Jokingly) What's the best bingo strategy?
A: Be better. Be better, and then you'll win bingo. You gotta show up and be like "I won," and then you'll win.
Q: Is there anything you'd like to say as a closing statement?
A: Join bingo club.
Bingo at EMU's first meeting for the fall 2025 semester will take place at the Honors College building at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23. The event is a food drive, and participants will receive an extra bingo card for every two cans they bring.
