by Rylee Byers
Oklahoma Baptist University recently wrapped up Ka-Rip Wars and Welcome Week, a series of events designed to welcome and celebrate its Fall 2026 freshman class.
As OBU continues its streak of activities and club announcements aimed at keeping students engaged, many freshmen are beginning to find their place within the campus community. For some students, however, that integration can present unique challenges.
“OBU has a lot of wonderful activities for students, but a lot of those tend to be very draining for those with physical or mental limitations,” said Raley Dunk, a sophomore at OBU and the vice president and chancellor for the new organization, Belong.
Belong is a club open to all OBU students, but Dunk said she wanted to create a space for students who may struggle with the demands of traditional campus activities.
“I wanted a place where students could still build friendships and have fun without overexerting themselves,” Dunk said. “We would be thrilled to have you join us, regardless of whether you do or don’t have any disabilities, or where you are at with your journey through managing disability.”
This desire grew from Dunk’s own experiences with health issues while attending OBU, which allowed her to recognize the demand for other students needing accommodations and a like-minded community.
Her faith also reinforced her mission to create those connections.
“We are all loved by God and created perfectly in His image,” Dunk said. “We are called to bear one another’s burdens.”
Belong’s sponsor, Holly Easttom, aligns with this vision.
“I agreed to sponsor Belong because I believe inclusion is deeply rooted in our Christian calling,” she said. “OBU is home to students with diverse experiences, abilities and needs, and this organization celebrates that diversity while creating community, offering support and pursuing meaningful solutions.”
For Dunk, cultivating a supportive community does not mean separating students with disabilities from the rest of campus. Instead, she hopes Belong can help challenge assumptions about what students with physical limitations are capable of.
To put this connection into practice, the upcoming club plans to host Bible studies, movie nights, study groups, craft sessions and more.
While those settings may seem familiar and socially demanding, Belong’s intention allows for everyone and anyone to feel welcome without maintaining a certain energy or appearance.
“I think that seeing people with physical limitations, it is easy to assume that they can participate less mentally as well, which really isn’t the case,” Dunk said.
With this in mind, she encourages students to offer help when they see someone struggling, while still recognizing that students with disabilities should be treated like anyone else.
As the club develops, Dunk plans to gather resources from and collaborate with faculty and administration.
Her goal is for Belong’s members and the disabled community on campus to have connections readily at their disposal whenever a question, concern or issue arises with their experience at OBU.
“I hope that the executive team is able to meet with members often and offer them love and support,” Dunk said. “I hope that as students continue to come into OBU, we are able to help lift them up and show them that college is absolutely doable even if you are disabled.”
Easttom agreed with that sentiment.
“My hope is that this organization will continue to grow, share the love and light of Christ, and serve the OBU community for many years to come.”
For anyone hoping to get plugged into Belong, reach out to Dunk or Easttom at raley.dunk25@okbu.edu or holly.easttom@okbu.edu.
