CSI’s club uses the game of Mafia to break barriers and build community.
By Arbish Afsar
One September evening, Ruson Begum, the president of the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Club, shuffled a deck of cards as fellow club members eagerly awaited the start of their next round of Mafia.
The energy in the room shifted from serious discussions of cultural heritage to playful accusations and whispered hunches. Begum distributed the cards; a familiar routine that had become a cherished tradition within the group. By the end of the evening, students who were initially unfamiliar with one another would be sharing laughter, bonded by the the joy of the event.
For the AAPI club, Mafia serves as more than just a game—it’s a tool for forging connections and nurturing a sense of community among students. While the club mainly aims to celebrate and educate others about Asian American Pacific Islander culture, this informal tradition has become equally important, breaking down barriers and helping students feel comfortable. The game aligns with the club’s broader goal of bringing people together from diverse backgrounds.
“Sometimes, we like to play Mafia during our events,” Begum said. “It’s usually really funny when it comes to figuring out who the Mafia is amongst club members.”
The AAPI club hosts various cultural events throughout the year, but it’s the entertaining game of Mafia that has become a favorite among members. At the end of some events, the room is filled with laughter as students engage in a lighthearted guessing game, attempting to outsmart one another by accusing their peers of being the “Mafia.”
The game allows students who may not know each other well to break the ice, creating an environment where laughter and friendship comes naturally.
“We want the club to create a sense of belonging and understanding within the college community,” Begum said. “The game of Mafia helps us achieve that. It allows students from different backgrounds to bond over something fun, without the pressure of needing to impress or fit in.”
Rawaha Aslam, the club’s treasurer, noted that while Mafia is just one of the numerous activities the AAPI club organizes, its impact on the group’s dynamic is evident.
“The way Mafia brings students together is amazing,” Aslam said. “It’s fun and lighthearted, but it creates a deeper sense of community. After a few rounds of the game, students who’ve never met before are laughing and making connections.”
As the club continues to expand, Begum and Aslam are dedicated to maintaining this tradition as a central feature of their events. Whether it’s using the game to wrap up a discussion on AAPI culture or simply as a fun way to end an event, the game has become a symbol of the community they’ve built at the college.
The AAPI club has found that these simple moments of fun leave lasting impressions on their members. These events show the club’s unique ability to combine cultural education with community-building activities, creating a space where students may feel more interested in getting more involved.
“In the end,” Begum said, “it’s not just about the game—it’s about the bonds we create. Whether we’re laughing over a game of Mafia or discussing serious cultural topics, it’s those connections that really matter.”
